What molecular machine is primarily responsible for establishing the steep concentration gradients for $ ext{Na}^+$ and $ ext{K}^+$?
Answer
Sodium-potassium pump
The sodium-potassium pump actively moves ions against their concentration gradients, pushing three sodium ions out for every two potassium ions it pulls in, which establishes the necessary steep gradients.
Related Questions
What are the fast electrical signals that relay information through the nervous system called?What is the typical value for a neuron's resting membrane potential?What molecular machine is primarily responsible for establishing the steep concentration gradients for $ ext{Na}^+$ and $ ext{K}^+$?What is the critical voltage level that must be reached to cause an action potential to fire?Where do the initial graded potentials summate to determine if the threshold is met?Which channels are the first to respond and open rapidly upon reaching the threshold voltage?What process is responsible for the rapid, positive spike in membrane potential during the rising phase of the action potential?What event causes the membrane potential to drive back down toward the resting level during repolarization?What characteristic of sodium channels ensures the action potential moves only forward down an axon?In myelinated axons, what process allows the signal to travel faster by 'jumping' along the axon?