During resting conditions in a human neuron, what primarily maintains the negative resting membrane potential of approximately ?

Answer and explanation

Correct answer: C. Active sodium-potassium ATPase pump extruding for every brought in

  1. Step 1: The negative resting potential across a neuronal membrane reflects an electrochemical gradient established by active transport and selective passive leak channels.
  2. Step 2: The electrogenic ATPase pump continuously exports ions while importing ions per hydrolyzed ATP molecule.
  3. Step 3: This unequal cation transport, combined with significantly higher resting membrane permeability to outward leak, maintains a stable resting potential near .
Answer
Active sodium-potassium ATPase pump extruding for every brought in.
Why not the others: Continuous passive inward leakage of sodium ions depolarizes the membrane rather than maintaining the negative resting state; High concentration of extracellular chloride ions moving into the cell would hyperpolarize the cell if opened, but chloride distribution is passive; Diffusion of calcium ions into the axon terminal occurs only during action potential arrival to trigger synaptic vesicle exocytosis.

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