Final answer:
The resting membrane potential is the voltage across the cell membrane when the cell is at rest. It is caused by differences in ion concentrations inside and outside the cell, with potassium being the dominant ion. This potential is maintained by selective permeability, ion concentration gradients, and sodium-potassium pumps.
Step-by-step explanation:
The resting membrane potential is the voltage across the cell membrane when the cell is at rest. It is caused by differences in the concentrations of ions inside and outside the cell, with the dominant ion being potassium (K+). The inside of the cell is more negatively charged than the outside, with a typical value of -70 mV. This potential is maintained by selective permeability of the membrane, ion concentration gradients, and the action of sodium-potassium pumps.