The Na+/K+ pump maintains membrane potential by keeping which distribution of ions?

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Multiple Choice

The Na+/K+ pump maintains membrane potential by keeping which distribution of ions?

The key idea is that the Na+/K+ pump maintains membrane potential by keeping sodium higher outside and potassium higher inside the cell. It does this by using ATP to move three Na+ ions out and two K+ ions in each cycle. This unequal exchange creates a net outward movement of positive charge, which helps keep the interior of the cell negative relative to the outside, establishing the resting membrane potential. If Na+ were higher inside or K+ higher outside, the gradients necessary for this potential would be reversed or dissipated. Equal concentrations would erase the potential, and moving only Na+ would fail to maintain the essential dual gradient that underpins the membrane potential.

The key idea is that the Na+/K+ pump maintains membrane potential by keeping sodium higher outside and potassium higher inside the cell. It does this by using ATP to move three Na+ ions out and two K+ ions in each cycle. This unequal exchange creates a net outward movement of positive charge, which helps keep the interior of the cell negative relative to the outside, establishing the resting membrane potential. If Na+ were higher inside or K+ higher outside, the gradients necessary for this potential would be reversed or dissipated. Equal concentrations would erase the potential, and moving only Na+ would fail to maintain the essential dual gradient that underpins the membrane potential.

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