Question

Why is the Na+, K+ pump essential for glucose absorption?

Answer 1

Primary active transport is the transport of molecules against their concentration gradients via transport protein utilizing the energy directly from the ATP breakdown.

Sodium-ion is moving against concentration gradient using Na K ATPase pump. This is the primary active transport of sodium. As a result, Large sodium concentration gradient is developed across the cell. This, in turn, causes facilitated diffusion of sodium along with the concentration gradient across the cell from another carrier protein. When sodium is moving passively across the cell, it moves the glucose along with it using the energy released by the passive movement of sodium. Such transport of ions using energy coming indirectly from the transport of other ion is called secondary active transport.