Final answer:
Potassium (K+) and sodium (Na+) ions are paramount in maintaining the resting potential across the nerve membrane. They do so through the action of the sodium-potassium pump, which creates a concentration gradient and an electrical charge difference that sets the stage for action potentials.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Ions Responsible for Resting Potential Maintenance
The two ions responsible for the uninterrupted maintenance of the resting potential across the nerve membrane are potassium (K+) and sodium (Na+). These ions play critical roles in establishing and maintaining the electrical gradient that constitutes the resting potential. Sodium-potassium pumps actively transport K+ ions into and Na+ ions out of the neuron, using ATP as an energy source.
This transport creates a higher concentration of K+ ions inside and Na+ ions outside the neuron, leading to a negative charge inside relative to the outside and establishing the resting potential. Potassium ions, present at a higher concentration inside, can diffuse out of the neuron through potassium channels more freely than sodium ions can enter, further contributing to the negative internal charge.
During the resting state, this membrane potential is critical for the transmission of nerve impulses, as it provides the electrochemical base necessary for an action potential to be generated in response to a stimulus. Without the proper functioning of the sodium-potassium pump and the regulated permeability of the membrane to K+ and Na+ ions, neurons would not be able to effectively transmit signals.