Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
The sodium-potassium pump is a protein complex found in cell membranes that moves sodium ions out of and potassium ions into the cell, using ATP for energy. It plays a crucial role in maintaining the cell's electrochemical gradient and volume.
ATP is the primary energy carrier in cells, used to power many processes including the sodium-potassium pump.
Electrochemical gradient: An electrochemical gradient is a gradient of electrochemical potential, usually for an ion that can move across a membrane, combining the forces of concentration difference and electrical potential difference.
The cell membrane is a biological membrane that separates the interior of all cells from the outside environment, controlling the movement of substances in and out of cells