Resting potential

[prsndwg]

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Is it only K+ that gets out or does NA+ also gets in at resting potential?
Can someone explain this please?

Kaplan and cliff are syaing diff things!

Thanks

 

[nze82]

Is it only K+ that gets out or does NA+ also gets in at resting potential?
Can someone explain this please?

Kaplan and cliff are syaing diff things!

Thanks

I believe the membrane is selectively permeable to K+ and not Na+ ions. This will allow K+ ions to escape, making the inside of the cell less positive. This explains why the resting potential of the cell is a negative value (Of course, this negative value also has to do with the presence of negatively charged molecules such as proteins within the cell).