Question

The sodium/calcium exchanger (NCX) transports sodium into and calcium out of cardiac muscle cells. Describe why this transporter is classified as secondary active transport.

Short answer

When there is a use of energy in transporting the particles then it's known as active transportation.

Step-by-step solution

Step 1. Introduction

The secondary active Transportation method is the one in which the electrochemical potential difference created by pumping ions out of the cell is used to transport molecules across a membrane.

Step 2. Explanation

In the Secondary active transport sodium ions and some other compounds are brought into the cell. Because of the primary active transport process, sodium ion concentrations start building outside of the plasma membrane which creates an electrochemical gradient.