This active transport mechanism is a sodium-potassium pump.
The sodium potassium pump is a sequence of proteins within the cell membrane. It moves sodium and potassium ions across the cell membrane in a process called facilitated diffusion, or active transport: when ions move against the concentration gradient, or to a highly concentrated region. To do so, the pump needs energy in the form of ATP, which is produced through cellular respiration. Once the pump receives this energy, it is able to maintain the resting potential in a nerve cell.
