The resting potential of neurons is primarily determined by:

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When considering what sets the resting membrane potential in neurons, the starting point is the ionic composition across the membrane. 
Option 1: The distribution of charged ions inside and outside the cell. This directly determines the resting potential, since gradients of ions like K+, Na+, Cl-, and others across the membrane establish the electrical potential difference, with selective permeability shaping the exact value. 
Option 2: The brain's overall magnetic field. While neural activity can generate magnetic fields, the resting potential is not set by global magnetic fields; it's a local property of the neuron’s membrane and ion gradients. 
Option 3: Lipid molecules inside the cell. Lipids contribute to membrane structure, but they do not define the resting potential through their mere presence; the potential arises mainly from ion distribution and membrane permeability properties, not from lipids themselves. 
Option 4: Heat given off by cell metabolism. Thermal changes do not establish the resting potential; they may affect reaction rates but do not set the ion gradients responsible for the membrane potential. 
Option 5: Proteins outside the cell. Surface proteins outside the cell can participate in signaling or transport, but the fundamental resting potential is governed by ions and channels across the membrane rather than extracellular proteins alone. 
In summary, the key driver is the ionic distribution across the neuronal membrane, which creates and maintains the resting membrane potential through selective permeability and ion channel activity.

PSY393H5 S LEC0101 393 Quiz

The resting potential of neurons is primarily determined by:

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