Neurons are cells in the nervous system that transmit messages. They use energy
ID: 151205 • Letter: N
Question
Neurons are cells in the nervous system that transmit messages. They use energy to maintain the balance of sodium and potassium ions inside and outside of them, which is critical for their ability to send messages. a. What kind of transport is this maintenance of sodium and potassium ion concentrations: active or passive? Explain your reasoning. b. What creates the barrier between the inside and the outside of these cells? c. What molecule uses energy to maintain the balance of sodium and potassium ions inside and outside of neurons? Describe two reasons why a molecule like this is required. d. What form of energy is used in this process? e. Briefly explain how the energy in the food you eat gets there, and how it provides energy for your neurons in the form necessary to power this process.
Explanation / Answer
a.Oviously the sodium potassium pump is an example of peimary active transport because it uses ATP as the energy currency.It involves tha usage of the enzyme Na-K ATPase.
b.The neurons do maintain resting potential and at some certain time they do exchange 2 potassium ions into the neuron for 3 sodium ions outside of it.This in turn creates a barrier among the cells with slightly positive charge outside and negetive inside.
c.The ATPase /Na+-K+ ATPase(sodium potassium adenosine triphospatase is the enzymatic molecule employed for this process of balance of ions inside and out.
2 possible reasons why it is required:
A.It helps in creating a electrochemical gradient across the cell between the Na and K ions.
B.In neurons this ATPase is responsible for cells 3/4th energy expenditure.
d. The hydrolysis of ATP is the main source of energy for this process.
e.The food we consume is broken down in three possible procedures to finally yield ATP which basically provides energy to the system for neuronal functioning.