Answer to Question #58965 in Cell Biology for tracy guido

Question

Select the descriptions that apply to the sodium-potassium pump. (more than one answer)
The concentration gradient of the ions determines the direction of movement through the pump.
The pump helps to maintain the concentration of sodium and potassium ions in living cells.
Sodium ions and potassium ions move into and out of the plasma membrane by osmosis.
The pump is an active mechanism for transporting ions through the plasma membrane.

What is an equilibrium potential?
the state at which positive and negative charge distribution for an ion across a membrane is equal, therefore there is no net ion movement
the potential across a membrane at which flow of a specific ion into the cell equals the flow out of the cell
the transmembrane potential at which there is no movement of any individual ions into or out of the cell
the difference in positive and negative charge across the membrane of an unstimulated, resting cell

Answer 1

a) The pump helps to maintain the concentration of sodium and potassium ions in living cells.
b) the difference in positive and negative charge across the membrane of an unstimulated, resting cell