What is the role of the sodium-potassium pump in neurons?
Practice Questions
Q1
What is the role of the sodium-potassium pump in neurons?
To maintain resting membrane potential
To generate action potentials
To release neurotransmitters
To facilitate synaptic transmission
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
What is the role of the sodium-potassium pump in neurons?
Step 1: Understand that neurons are special cells that send signals in the body.
Step 2: Know that neurons have a membrane that separates the inside of the cell from the outside.
Step 3: Learn that the sodium-potassium pump is a protein in the neuron's membrane.
Step 4: Recognize that this pump moves sodium (Na+) ions out of the cell and potassium (K+) ions into the cell.
Step 5: Understand that this movement of ions is important for keeping the inside of the neuron negatively charged compared to the outside, which is called the resting membrane potential.
Step 6: Remember that maintaining this resting membrane potential is crucial for the neuron to be ready to send signals when needed.
