What is the primary function of sodium and potassium ions in the body?

• A. They are essential for maintaining the body's acid-base balance.
• B. They are the main components of bone structure.
• C. They play a crucial role in nerve impulse transmission and muscle contraction.
• D. They are primarily involved in the synthesis of proteins.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that sodium (Na⁺) and potassium (K⁺) ions are electrolytes, which are essential for various physiological processes in the body.
2. Recognize that these ions are crucial for maintaining the electrical gradient across cell membranes, which is vital for nerve impulse transmission.
3. Learn that the sodium-potassium pump (Na⁺/K⁺ ATPase) actively transports sodium out of cells and potassium into cells, creating an electrochemical gradient.
4. Explore how this gradient is used to propagate action potentials in neurons, allowing for communication between nerve cells.
5. Understand that the same electrochemical gradient is important for muscle contraction, as it helps in the depolarization and repolarization of muscle cells, leading to contraction and relaxation.