Final answer:
The sodium-potassium pump, also known as Na+/K+ ATPase, transports sodium out of the cell while moving potassium into the cell. It is crucial for maintaining the electrochemical gradient across cell membranes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The sodium-potassium pump, also known as Na+/K+ ATPase, plays a crucial role in maintaining the electrochemical gradient and the correct concentrations of sodium (Na+) and potassium (K+) ions in living cells. It transports Na+ out of the cell while moving K+ into the cell. This pump is particularly abundant in nerve cells, which maintain an electrical gradient across their cell membranes. Each Na+/K+ pump moves three Na+ ions out of the cell and two K+ ions into the cell for each ATP molecule used.