Which of the following is responsible for maintaining the difference in ion concentration across the membrane of a nerve cell?
here are choices
the sodium-potassium pump
the action potential
the depolarization of the membrane
the ion channels in the membrane
I think it is the sodium-potassium pump. Am I correct?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NaKATPase
The sodium-potassium pump...three NA in, two K out causes difference in ion concentration.
you are correct
Yes, you are correct! The sodium-potassium pump is responsible for maintaining the difference in ion concentration across the membrane of a nerve cell.
To explain how this works, the sodium-potassium pump is a protein located in the cell membrane of nerve cells. It actively transports three sodium ions (Na+) out of the cell for every two potassium ions (K+) it transports into the cell. This process requires energy in the form of ATP (adenosine triphosphate).
By pumping sodium ions out and potassium ions in, the sodium-potassium pump helps to maintain a high concentration of potassium ions inside the cell and a high concentration of sodium ions outside the cell. This difference in ion concentration across the membrane is crucial for generating the electrical impulses that allow nerve cells to communicate with each other.
So, in summary, the sodium-potassium pump is responsible for maintaining the difference in ion concentration across the membrane of a nerve cell by actively pumping sodium ions out and potassium ions in.