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?

What’s being tested is how the Na+/K+ pump maintains ion gradients across the membrane. This pump uses ATP to move three Na+ ions out of the cell and two K+ ions in per cycle, which keeps sodium concentrations higher outside and potassium concentrations higher inside. This gradient supports the cell’s resting membrane potential and its ability to fire signals. So, the distribution kept by the pump is sodium outside. The other ions are regulated by different mechanisms, not this pump: potassium is kept higher inside, while chloride and calcium distributions are set by other transporters and channels.

What’s being tested is how the Na+/K+ pump maintains ion gradients across the membrane. This pump uses ATP to move three Na+ ions out of the cell and two K+ ions in per cycle, which keeps sodium concentrations higher outside and potassium concentrations higher inside. This gradient supports the cell’s resting membrane potential and its ability to fire signals. So, the distribution kept by the pump is sodium outside. The other ions are regulated by different mechanisms, not this pump: potassium is kept higher inside, while chloride and calcium distributions are set by other transporters and channels.

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