Final answer:
K⁺ leak channels play a role in maintaining the resting membrane potential by allowing the slow movement of potassium ions out of the cell, creating a negative charge inside. The Na⁺/K⁺ pump also helps maintain the resting membrane potential by actively transporting ions across the membrane. The primary topic is the role of K⁺ leak channels and the Na⁺/K⁺ pump in the resting membrane potential.
Step-by-step explanation:
Leakage channels play a role in maintaining the resting membrane potential of a cell by allowing the slow movement of ions across the membrane. K⁺ leak channels specifically allow potassium ions to move out of the cell, while Na⁺ leak channels allow sodium ions to move into the cell. This movement of ions helps to balance out the charge across the membrane.
At rest, the membrane potential is approximately 0 mV because the opening of K⁺ leak channels allows K⁺ ions to move out of the cell, taking a positive charge with them. This leaves behind a negative charge inside the cell, creating a balance of charges across the membrane.
The Na⁺/K⁺ pump is another pump that contributes to the resting membrane potential. This pump actively transports three Na⁺ ions out of the cell for every two K⁺ ions it transports into the cell. This helps to maintain the concentration gradients of Na⁺ and K⁺ ions across the membrane, contributing to the negative charge inside the cell.