What term is used to describe the total combination of electrical and chemical forces acting on a membrane potential?

The term that describes the total combination of electrical and chemical forces acting on a membrane potential is known as the electrochemical gradient. This concept encompasses both the concentration gradient of ions across the membrane (chemical forces) and the membrane potential (electrical forces) that affect the movement of those ions.

The electrochemical gradient is crucial for understanding how ions move in and out of cells, impacting processes such as action potentials in nerve cells and muscle contraction. The concentration difference of ions across the membrane creates a driving force for diffusion, while the membrane potential influences the direction of ion movement based on their charge. Together, these forces determine how ions will move across the membrane, which is fundamental for cell signaling and function.

While terms like membrane potential, resting potential, and transmembrane potential refer to specific aspects of electrical properties of membranes, they do not fully encapsulate the interplay between both ionic concentration and electrical charge that characterizes the electrochemical gradient.