Sodium-Potassium Pump

Definition

The sodium-potassium pump is a mechanism in neurons that actively transports three sodium ions out of the cell and two potassium ions into the cell, against their concentration gradients, to maintain the resting potential.

Related terms

Resting Potential:

The electrical charge across the membrane of an inactive neuron, maintained by the sodium-potassium pump.

Action Potential:

A brief electrical impulse that travels down an axon when a neuron is stimulated and reaches its threshold.

Ion Channels: Protein channels embedded in the neuron's membrane that allow specific ions to pass through, contributing to changes in membrane potential.