How is calcium involved with the sodium potassium pump?

Answer 1

I am gonna give a kinda simple answer on this one....without calcium, our muscles cannot contract, so the action potential would never exist. In order for the sodium potassium pump to work, there has to be an action potential. Put as simply as I can, an action potential causes the voltage gated Calcium channels to open. The Calcium then enters the cell, causing synaptic vessicles to release acetylcholine (ACh) to be released (neurotransmitter). The ACh then diffuse across the synaptic cleft and bind to the ligand gated sodium channels, causing them to open. This makes the ligand gates to open, and the sodium enters the cell, making the cell more positive. Once the membrane potential reaches threshold level, an action potential will be produced. So where does the pump come in? The nerve has to "reset" if you will (resting membrane potential), and it does that by pumping things back to normal using the Na/K pump. I will put a link on here that will help...its an easy to follow animation (there are a few of them available). When you click on the link, it may throw you into the main page....you need to look at the upper left corner and click on the "Resources" button. then go to chapter 11, click on "quizzes"....there you will see a list of short animations that should help you out. Each one lasts maybe 1 minute, but they are really helpful to students :-)