In the resting state of the neural membrane, diffusion due to concentration gradients, if allowed, would drive

Options

A. `Ca^(2+)` into the cell
B. `K^+` and `Na^+` out of the cell
C. `Na^+` into the cell
D. `Na^+` out of the cell

Explanation

To solve the question regarding the diffusion of ions in the resting state of the neural membrane, we can follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understand the Resting Membrane Potential**:
- In a neuron at rest, the membrane potential is typically around -70 mV. This is due to the unequal distribution of ions across the membrane.

2. **Identify Key Ions**:
- The primary ions involved in maintaining the resting membrane potential are sodium (Na⁺) and potassium (K⁺). At rest, there is a higher concentration of Na⁺ outside the cell and a higher concentration of K⁺ inside the cell.

3. **Role of the Sodium-Potassium Pump**:
- The sodium-potassium pump (Na⁺/K⁺ ATPase) actively transports 3 sodium ions out of the cell and 2 potassium ions into the cell. This process is crucial for maintaining the concentration gradients of these ions.

4. **Consider the Effects of Diffusion**:
- If diffusion were allowed without the action of the sodium-potassium pump, sodium ions would move down their concentration gradient into the cell, while potassium ions would move out of the cell.

5. **Conclusion**:
- Since the question asks what diffusion due to concentration gradients would drive in the resting state, the answer is that sodium ions would diffuse into the cell. However, the sodium-potassium pump counteracts this by pushing sodium out of the cell.

6. **Final Answer**:
- Therefore, the correct answer to the question is that sodium is pushed out of the cell, which corresponds to option D.