Question

If the na /k pump were to stop functioning, what would eventually happen to the concentration gradients of sodium and potassium ions across the membrane?

Answer 1

The sodium-potassium pump is essential for maintaining the concentration gradients of Na+ and K+ ions across the membrane. If this pump were to stop functioning or if its activity were inhibited, Na+ would accumulate within the cell and intracellular K+ would fall. This would result in the intracellular deposition of sodium ions and extracellular deposition of potassium ions, disrupting cellular osmolarity and changing the membrane potential¹.