Professor Durrant explained to his students that the resting potential of a neuron is the ______.
A) total amount of positive charge inside the neuron relative to the outside
B) total amount of negative charge inside the neuron relative to the outside
C) total amount of sodium ions compared to potassium ions
D) the amount of positive charge in the dendrites compared to the axon

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The resting potential of a neuron refers to the difference in charge between the inside and outside of the neuron's cell membrane. The inside of the neuron is negatively charged relative to the outside, which is the result of an uneven distribution of ions across the membrane, with more negatively charged ions inside the cell and more positively charged ions outside. Option B correctly identifies the total amount of negative charge inside the neuron relative to the outside as the resting potential.

Professor Durrant Explained to His Students That the Resting Potential