Ion Pumps

• Channels work with the extra cellular fluid. So, ions flow toward the gradient.
• As neurons fire, the amount of particular ions in and outside the neuron change.
• At some point the amount of each ion will be the same.
• Ion pumps are used to change the gradient.
• In the sodium case, pumping it out of the cell.
• Trappenberg says pumps use 70% of the metabolic resources of neurons ( and 15% overall).