Final answer:
The sodium-potassium pump is crucial for nerve cells to maintain an electrical gradient, vital for nerve impulse propagation and resting membrane potential, by actively transporting Na+ out and K+ in using ATP.
Step-by-step explanation:
The concentration gradient established by the sodium-potassium pump is essential to nerve cells (neurons). The pump uses ATP to actively transport three sodium ions (Na+) out of the cell and two potassium ions (K+) into the cell, against their respective concentration gradients. This active transport is critical because it establishes an electrical gradient across the cell membrane, which is crucial for the propagation of nerve impulses and the maintenance of resting membrane potential. In nerve cells, this process is vital for their function and consumes a significant portion of their ATP, emphasizing the importance of the sodium-potassium pump in the nervous system.