Resting Potential
Imagine trying to keep a seesaw perfectly balanced with one heavier person on one side and a lighter person on the other. This scenario is similar to how a neuron maintains a resting potential, where it keeps a balance between positive and negative charges inside and outside its membrane. Just like adjusting the position of a lighter person on the seesaw to counterbalance the heavier one, a neuron uses ion channels to manage the flow of ions, ensuring that the inside remains negatively charged compared to the outside, thus maintaining stability.
Practice Version
Resting Potential: The difference in charge between the inside and outside of a neuron. Resting potential. Resting potential is the electrical charge difference across a neuron's membrane when it is not actively sending a signal.