The credit for the negative resting potential of a neuron can go to
A) electrostatic pressure and diffusion.
B) ion channels and concentration gradients.
C) the sodium-potassium pump and selective permeability.
D) repolarization and depolarization.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The negative resting potential of a neuron is maintained by both the sodium-potassium pump and selective permeability. The sodium-potassium pump exchanges 3 sodium ions for 2 potassium ions, which results in an excess of negative charge inside the cell. This creates the negative resting potential. Selective permeability refers to the fact that the membrane of a neuron is more permeable to potassium ions than to sodium ions. As a result, potassium ions diffuse out of the cell more readily than sodium ions diffuse in, which contributes to the negative resting potential. While ion channels, concentration gradients, and depolarization/repolarization are also involved in the generation of action potentials, they do not play as significant a role in the maintenance of the negative resting potential.

The Credit for the Negative Resting Potential of a Neuron