This patient's hypokalemia was due to his profuse sweating the previous day and the subsequent loss of potassium ions at the kidneys. How would his hypokalemia affect action potential generation? O the cell membrane potential will become more positive and facilitate action potential generation O the cell membrane potential will become more negative and it will be more difficult to generate an action potential O action potentials will be generated at a higher frequency O a and c

Phlebotomy Essentials
6th Edition
ISBN:9781451194524
Author:Ruth McCall, Cathee M. Tankersley MT(ASCP)
Publisher:Ruth McCall, Cathee M. Tankersley MT(ASCP)
Chapter1: Phlebotomy: Past And Present And The Healthcare Setting
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**Question:**

This patient's hypokalemia was due to his profuse sweating the previous day and the subsequent loss of potassium ions at the kidneys. How would his hypokalemia affect action potential generation?

**Options:**

1. O the cell membrane potential will become more positive and facilitate action potential generation
2. O the cell membrane potential will become more negative and it will be more difficult to generate an action potential
3. O action potentials will be generated at a higher frequency
4. O a and c

---

**Explanation for Educational Website:**

Hypokalemia refers to a condition where there is a lower-than-normal concentration of potassium ions in the blood. Potassium ions are crucial for maintaining the resting membrane potential of cells and for the generation of action potentials in excitable cells, such as neurons and muscle cells.

**Key Concepts:**

1. **Resting Membrane Potential:** The resting membrane potential is typically negative due to the differential distribution of ions across the cell membrane, with a higher concentration of potassium ions inside the cell and a higher concentration of sodium ions outside the cell.

2. **Potassium's Role:** Potassium ions predominantly contribute to the maintenance of this resting membrane potential. When potassium levels decrease (hypokalemia), it affects the balance of ions across the membrane.

3. **Effect of Hypokalemia on Membrane Potential:**
   - **More Negative Potential:** With lower extracellular potassium, the gradient for potassium to leave the cell increases, leading to a more negative cell membrane potential (hyperpolarization). This hyperpolarization makes it more difficult for the cell to reach the threshold needed to generate an action potential.

From these points, hypokalemia makes the cell membrane potential more negative, thus making it harder to generate an action potential.

**Correct Answer:**
- O the cell membrane potential will become more negative and it will be more difficult to generate an action potential
Transcribed Image Text:**Question:** This patient's hypokalemia was due to his profuse sweating the previous day and the subsequent loss of potassium ions at the kidneys. How would his hypokalemia affect action potential generation? **Options:** 1. O the cell membrane potential will become more positive and facilitate action potential generation 2. O the cell membrane potential will become more negative and it will be more difficult to generate an action potential 3. O action potentials will be generated at a higher frequency 4. O a and c --- **Explanation for Educational Website:** Hypokalemia refers to a condition where there is a lower-than-normal concentration of potassium ions in the blood. Potassium ions are crucial for maintaining the resting membrane potential of cells and for the generation of action potentials in excitable cells, such as neurons and muscle cells. **Key Concepts:** 1. **Resting Membrane Potential:** The resting membrane potential is typically negative due to the differential distribution of ions across the cell membrane, with a higher concentration of potassium ions inside the cell and a higher concentration of sodium ions outside the cell. 2. **Potassium's Role:** Potassium ions predominantly contribute to the maintenance of this resting membrane potential. When potassium levels decrease (hypokalemia), it affects the balance of ions across the membrane. 3. **Effect of Hypokalemia on Membrane Potential:** - **More Negative Potential:** With lower extracellular potassium, the gradient for potassium to leave the cell increases, leading to a more negative cell membrane potential (hyperpolarization). This hyperpolarization makes it more difficult for the cell to reach the threshold needed to generate an action potential. From these points, hypokalemia makes the cell membrane potential more negative, thus making it harder to generate an action potential. **Correct Answer:** - O the cell membrane potential will become more negative and it will be more difficult to generate an action potential
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