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.