What does the sodium and potassium pump do?
Sodium-potassium pump, in cellular physiology, a protein that has been identified in many cells that maintains the internal concentration of potassium ions [K+] higher than that in the surrounding medium (blood, body fluid, water) and maintains the internal concentration of sodium ions [Na+] lower than that of the …
What is sodium-potassium pump in biology?
also known as the Na+/K+ pump or Na+/K+-ATPase, this is a protein pump found in the cell membrane of neurons (and other animal cells). It acts to transport sodium and potassium ions across the cell membrane in a ratio of 3 sodium ions out for every 2 potassium ions brought in.
What organ uses the sodium-potassium pump?
the kidneys
In the kidneys the Na-K pump helps to maintain sodium and potassium balance in our body. It also plays a key role in maintaining blood pressure and controls cardiac contractions. Failure of the Na-K pump can result in the swelling of the cell.
What are the 6 steps involved in a sodium-potassium pump?
Terms in this set (6)
- First 3 sodium ions bind with the carrier protein.
- The cell then splits off a phosphate from ATP to supply energy to change shape of the protein.
- The new shape carries the sodium out.
- The carrier protein has the shape to bind with potassium.
- The phosphate is released and the protein changes shape again.
What organ system uses the sodium-potassium pump?
In the kidneys the Na-K pump helps to maintain sodium and potassium balance in our body. It also plays a key role in maintaining blood pressure and controls cardiac contractions. Failure of the Na-K pump can result in the swelling of the cell.
Why is the sodium-potassium pump important in medicine?
The sodium-potassium pump has the job of keeping the axon ready for the next signal. The gradient is also helps control the osmotic pressure inside cells, and powers a variety of other pumps that link the flow of sodium ions with the transport of other molecules, such as calcium ions or glucose.