Final answer:
The resting potential refers to the negative electrical charge established inside a resting neuron's cell membrane compared to the outside, typically ranging from -50mV to -70mV and maintained by ion concentration gradients.
Step-by-step explanation:
The difference in electrical charge between the inside and the outside of the membrane in the resting nerve cell is called the resting potential. This resting potential usually ranges between -50 millivolts (mV) to -70 mV, establishing a negative charge inside the cell relative to the outside.
The resting potential arises from the differential concentrations of ions, primarily sodium (Na+) and potassium (K+), on either side of the neuron's plasma membrane. Specialized proteins called sodium-potassium pumps use ATP to pump Na+ out and K+ in, contributing to this potential. Moreover, the membrane's selective permeability to K+ over Na+ aids in maintaining the resting potential. While K+ can move out of the cell more easily through potassium channels, Na+ ions have more difficulty entering, helping to establish and keep the inside of the cell negatively charged compared to the exterior.