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.
Imagine a security guard at a party who constantly kicks rowdy partygoers out (sodium ions) while letting calm people in (potassium ions). This keeps the party atmosphere balanced and under control, just like how the sodium-potassium pump maintains the resting potential of a neuron.
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.
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