What is resting membrane potential, or resting potential?
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What is resting membrane potential, or resting potential?
1 Answer
Verified archiveResting membrane potential, or resting potential, is the electrical charge difference across the membrane of a neuron when it is not actively sending signals. Typically, this potential is about -70 millivolts (mV), with the inside of the cell being more negative compared to the outside. This charge difference is primarily maintained by the sodium-potassium pump, which actively transports sodium ions out of the cell and potassium ions into the cell. This resting state is crucial for the generation of action potentials when the neuron is stimulated.
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