The sodium-potassium pump is an enzyme complex that exchanges sodium and potassium ions across the membrane of the neuron. The sodium-potassium pump uses ATP to send 3 sodium ions out of the cell in exchange for taking in 2 potassium ions. Without the pump, the gradient would eventually come to equilibrium since some sodium and potassium will naturally diffuse across the membrane. The sodium-potassium pump runs constantly in order to maintain the resting potential of the neuron. The pump also helps reestablish the resting potential following hyperpolarization.
(“Scheme sodium-potassium pump”)
One thought on “Sodium-Potassium Pump”