Which of the Following is a Neuronal Attribute That Contributes

Question

Which of the following is a neuronal attribute that contributes to the resting membrane potential?
A) Potassium is kept at a high concentration outside the cell compared with the inside.
B) Sodium is kept at a high concentration inside the cell compared with the outside.
C) Neurons are more permeable to sodium than they are to potassium.
D) The cytosol contains large molecules that have a net positive charge.
E) The cytosol contains large molecules that have a net negative charge.

Accepted Answer

The resting membrane potential is largely determined by the concentration gradient of ions across the cell membrane and the selective permeability of the membrane to these ions. Large molecules within the cytosol that have a net negative charge contribute to the negative charge inside the cell relative to the outside, which is a key factor in establishing the resting membrane potential.