Final answer:
The sodium-potassium pump plays a crucial role in maintaining cellular homeostasis by ejecting sodium ions and importing potassium ions across the cell membrane.
Step-by-step explanation:
Sodium-Potassium Pump in Cellular Homeostasis
The sodium-potassium pump is an important exchange pump within the cell membrane. It ejects sodium (Na+) ions from the cell and imports potassium (K+) ions. This pump is critical for maintaining cellular homeostasis, as it helps establish and maintain the concentration and charge difference across the cell membrane.
Powered by ATP, the sodium-potassium pump moves sodium ions out of the cell and potassium ions into the cell, both against their concentration gradient. This process ensures the proper concentrations of both ions are maintained, which is vital for various cellular functions.