An explanation of how the membrane potential is generated and maintained using the sodium/potassium pump/atpase and potassium leak channels.

Membrane potential (or transmembrane potential or transmembrane potential difference or transmembrane potential gradient), is the electrical potential difference (voltage) across a cell's plasma membrane. The plasma membrane bounds the cell to provide a stable environment for biological processes. Membrane potential arises from the action of ion transporters embedded in the membrane which maintain viable ion concentrations inside the cell. The term "membrane potential" is sometimes used interchangeably with cell potential but is applicable to any lipid bilayer or membrane. The membrane potential of most cells is kept relatively stable. Unlike most cells, neurons are specialised to use changes in membrane potential for fast communication, primarily with other neurons. When a neuron fires, the action potential travels down the axon to the synapses: the magnitude of the axonal membrane potential varies dynamically along its length. On reaching a (chemical) synapse, a neurotransmitter is released causing a localized change in potential in the membrane of the target neuron by opening ion channels in its membrane. (wikipedia)