A patient is given a drug that causes excessive loss of potassium ions in the ur

Question

A patient is given a drug that causes excessive loss of potassium ions in the urine from his/her extracellular fluid. Consequently, the [K+] of the ECF falls to below normal. Assume that the ICF potassium concentration remains normal. What do you think will happen to the resting membrane potential of neurons in this patient? Will this patient's neurons fire action potentials more readily or less readily? (i.e., will the neurons become more excitable or less excitable?) Hint: Just think in terms of the ionic mechanism for the resting membrane potential and recall what is meant by the term "threshold potential".

Explanation / Answer

you already have one hint. Okay, here's another. What happens to the Nernst potential for K+? What will happen to the resting membrane potential?

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