What did you learn about the Na/K pump?

[ThatPoshGirl]

I learned that the Na/K pump pumps three Na out and two K in. Pumping the three Na out and only two K makes the inside of the cell slightly less positive, which creates an electrochemical gradient. Is that what you learned? I'm asking because Dr. C's lecture says something totally different.

[9livesRN, BSN, RN]

yes, that is what we learned, and there is a good simple website for that

http://www.brookscole.com/chemistry_d/templates/student_resources/shared_resources/animations/ion_pump/ionpump.html

[serendipity123]

Thanks for posting this guys. I learned it a little different... but I wasn't in a chem class at all. I was in basic bio and we did a small section on biochem and that was included. I looked up stuff about the Na/K pump online the night before the test and I was like "Oh this is how it works! This makes sense!" so I answered questions according to what I taught myself from online lectures... and they were wrong! I was outraged! Lol. Glad you guys verified that I learned it the RIGHT way. My teacher's explanation made absolutely no sense!

[jessica<3RN]

I thought it was 3 Na into the cell and 2 K out?

[ThatPoshGirl]

You wouldn't want to pump Na into the cell. That would cause the cell to become hypertonic and water would diffuse in and the cell would burst.

[serendipity123]

You wouldn't want to pump Na into the cell. That would cause the cell to become hypertonic and water would diffuse in and the cell would burst.

Thanks for the explanation.

And... this is totally random... but I just noticed the picture by your name. Is that YOU with Michelle Obama??? If so I am extremely envious. I'm a huge Obama supporter.

[ThatPoshGirl]

It is me. It's from August of last year. And she's amazing.

[serendipity123]

I am so jealous.

I suppose I would be more jealous if you'd met Barack though...

Anyway, back to the regularly scheduled thread.

Lol I'm bad about getting off-topic.

[ThatPoshGirl]

So I guess you don't want to hear about the times I met Barack?

[working_hard]

I learned that the Na/K pump pumps three Na out and two K in. Pumping the three Na out and only two K makes the inside of the cell slightly less positive, which creates an electrochemical gradient. Is that what you learned? I'm asking because Dr. C's lecture says something totally different.

Yes...I learned that 3 Na+ out and 2 K+ in. I touched on this in Bio but I learned it in depth in Anatomy I.