Final answer:
The sodium-potassium pump moves sodium ions out of the cell and potassium ions into the cell. It requires ATP as energy and is inhibited by certain factors like ouabain.
Step-by-step explanation:
The sodium-potassium pump (Na+/K+ ATPase) moves sodium ions (Na+) out of the cell and potassium ions (K+) into the cell. It requires energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), hence it is also known as an ATPase. The pump works against the concentration gradients of sodium and potassium, maintaining those gradients. It is inhibited by certain factors such as ouabain, a toxic chemical compound that binds specifically to the pump and inhibits its function.