Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment

Patch-Clamp Techniques

An electrophysiologic technique for studying cells, cell membranes, and occasionally isolated organelles. All patch-clamp methods rely on a very high-resistance seal between a micropipette and a membrane; the seal is usually attained by gentle suction. The four most common variants include on-cell patch, inside-out patch, outside-out patch, and whole-cell clamp. Patch-clamp methods are commonly used to voltage clamp, that is control the voltage across the membrane and measure current flow, but current-clamp methods, in which the current is controlled and the voltage is measured, are also used.

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

An electrophysiologic technique for studying cells, cell membranes, and occasionally isolated organelles. All patch-clamp methods rely on a very high-resistance seal between a micropipette and a membrane; the seal is usually attained by gentle suction. The four most common variants include on-cell patch, inside-out patch, outside-out patch, and whole-cell clamp. Patch-clamp methods are commonly used to voltage clamp, that is control the voltage across the membrane and measure current flow, but current-clamp methods, in which the current is controlled and the voltage is measured, are also used.

MeSH Record

Classification

Broader headings

Related Concepts

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MeSH Record

Synonyms

32 entry terms
  • Patch Clamp Technique
  • Patch-Clamp Technic
  • Patch-Clamp Technics
  • Patch-Clamp Technique
  • Clamp Technique, Patch
  • Clamp Techniques, Patch
  • Patch Clamp Technic
  • Patch Clamp Technics
  • Patch Clamp Techniques
  • Technic, Patch-Clamp
  • Technics, Patch-Clamp
  • Technique, Patch Clamp
  • Technique, Patch-Clamp
  • Techniques, Patch Clamp
  • Techniques, Patch-Clamp
  • Voltage-Clamp Technic
  • Voltage-Clamp Technics
  • Voltage-Clamp Technique
  • Voltage-Clamp Techniques
  • Whole-Cell Recording
  • Recording, Whole-Cell
  • Recordings, Whole-Cell
  • Technic, Voltage-Clamp
  • Technics, Voltage-Clamp
  • Technique, Voltage-Clamp
  • Techniques, Voltage-Clamp
  • Voltage Clamp Technic
  • Voltage Clamp Technics
  • Voltage Clamp Technique
  • Voltage Clamp Techniques
  • Whole Cell Recording
  • Whole-Cell Recordings

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

10 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings classification, economics, ethics, history, instrumentation, methods, standards, statistics & numerical data, trends, veterinary.

MeSH Record

Indexing Annotation

a cytol technique for removing a tiny patch of plasma membrane; NIM

MeSH Record

History Note

95

MeSH Record

Previous Indexing

  • Electrophysiology (1975-1994)
  • Ion Channels (1978-1994)
  • Membrane Potentials (1975-1994)

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Numbers

  1. E05.200.500.905w
  2. E05.242.800w

MeSH Record

NLM Classification

QY 95

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Patch-Clamp Techniques. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D018408. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D018408
  2. Patch-Clamp Techniques. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patch_clamp
  3. Patch-Clamp Techniques. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q176366