patch clamp
An electrophysiological technique using a glass micropipette to measure ionic currents across cellular membranes.
Full Definition
Patch clamp is a laboratory technique that allows precise measurement of ionic currents flowing through individual ion channels or across entire cell membranes. The method involves pressing a glass micropipette against a cell membrane to form a high-resistance seal, enabling recording configurations including cell-attached, whole-cell, inside-out, and outside-out patches. This Nobel Prize-winning technique revolutionized cellular neurophysiology by providing direct measurement of ion channel function, kinetics, and pharmacology. Patch clamp data appears throughout neuroscience literature investigating membrane properties, channel dysfunction, and drug effects.
Usage
Usage note: Always hyphenate; can be used as both noun and verb (to patch-clamp).
In Context
- "Patch clamp recordings revealed altered sodium channel kinetics in the patient's neurons." — Clinical electrophysiology study
- "The drug's effect on GABA channels was characterized using patch clamp techniques." — Pharmacology research paper