I just found the reply link: cool.
OK.
I could not quickly correlate your #'s with
the S. guide but I can address your #'s 5
& 8 for now, and I'll get back to you with
the remainder.

The resting potential is produced by all of
the forces that you mention; diffusion,
electrostatic pressure (esp), & the ion
pumps. Yes, the membrane starts at it's
resting potential - it does not need to be
"produced" except to the extent that it
must be re-produced (re-established)
after depolarization. It is the action
potential which must be produced.

It is very important to define terms
precisely. Most of us are familiar with
most of these terms but in a "general"
way - in everyday conversation. For the
subject at hand, resting potential does
not mean zero, or nothing. The resting
potential of the cell membrane (at -70mv)
is analogous to a flashlight battery - a D
cell with a resting "potential" of 1.5 V DC.
When the switch is tripped it becomes a
current - a KINETIC - an ACTION

The text relies on a simplified
osmosis/diffusion model for simplicity
and (consequently) places undue
emphasis on esp before the fact. Again,
definition of terms. Electrostatic pressure
is not a factor of the resting potential, but
rather of the action potential. It is only
because the cell membrane is both
semi-permeable to certain electrolytes,
proteins, xmitters, etc, and because it is
an insulator, in the same manner as the
vinyl coating on the wires of your house or
car, or the myelin of your axons, that there
can be a "potential" "difference" - a
"differential", or, as is common in science
a "gradient". In other words, because the
membrane insulates the Na+ & K+ on the
inside from the Cl- on the out, an esp
potential is maintained.

When the soma has received sufficient
stimulation to cause an action potential
there is a cascade of events within the
soma, and adjacent to the axon in which
the "potential" is to be generated that
open the Na+- channels - NOW it really is
esp; by opening Cl- channels the
insulating effect of the membrane is
negated (for a very short distance) and
esp tries to neutralize the differential - neg
chloride is attracted to pos sodium ion.
Once again- definition of terms. Action
potential is a poor choice of phrase
because it is self-negating. Action
means just that, but potential means
non-action - resting, waiting, about-to-be.
Just as we describe the "potential"
energy, "energy" at rest (mass), of a
weight poised to fall and then translate it
to "kinetic" energy: 1 lb @ 32ft (gravity -
32ft/sec) height = 32 pound -feet of
potential energy. If released, it will strike
the ground in one second with 32
pound-feet of KINETIC energy.

Now, because the biochemical properties
of our cells are what they are, we are left
with a "resting" potential, NOT zero but
just resting, of -70 and KINETIC
"potential" of: -70 to +40 - equals a
KINETIC action (kinection?) of 130mv.
After this cascade the resting potential
must be re-established and - Yes, the Na+
& K+ pumps are post-action potential -
not before. We can't have something for
nothing - esp is free but we must work to
reverse it; active pumping is required to
reestablish the resting potential.

I hope this helps, I'll be back with more, if
the above is not clear let me know and
we'll work on it,
Ciao for now,
rich
ps - #8 forthcommingng
pps: I just found the edit link!! Wicked Cool!!! With regard to the above and the xsition from resting pot. to action pot. - I have me ions backwards - should be Cl- in, NA+ out, & Na+ channels open to initiate depolarization. Sorry 'bout that, I think faster than I type and sometimes the result can be rather amusing.