Final answer:
The statement is True as a minute fraction of charged particles creates a significant membrane potential important for cell function.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that 'an almost insignificant fraction of the total number of available charged particles is responsible for the membrane potential' is True. The concentration of ions inside and outside the cell is largely balanced, leading to a net neutral charge overall. However, slight differences in charge distribution at the membrane surface, which is only a few nanometers thick, generate the vital electrical signals in neurons and muscle cells. Despite the small number of ions involved, the potential difference that is created across the membrane is significant, typically around -70 mV for resting cells. This potential difference results in an extraordinarily high electric field across the membrane due to its thinness, dramatically influencing the structure and permeability of the cell membrane. About 25% of a cell's energy is used to maintain this resting membrane potential, indicating its crucial role for cell function.