A man was infused with a K+-enhanced intravenous solution meant for another pati

Question

A man was infused with a K+-enhanced intravenous solution meant for another patient who was taking potassium-wasting diuretics. His potassium levels were normal before IV was administered. What effect did this have on his neurons? (Infusion means that this solution was injected into a blood vessel and K+ gradients were not reversed due to this infusion).

a. It will be easier for his neurons to generate an action potential, as his resting membrane potential will be closer to threshold.

b. His hair cells will be less likely to generate action potentials.

c. The depolarization phase of the action potential will take longer than normal.

d. It will force the sodium-potassium pump to pump in four potassium ions at once, rather than two in order to compensate for the increased potassium levels in the ECF due to the injection. e. Both (A) and (B) are correct

Explanation / Answer

a. It will be easier for his neurons to generate an action potential, as his resting membrane potential will be closer to threshold.

During hyperkalemia, the resting membrane potential decreases (because the concentration gradient across the cell membrane decreases), depolarization occurs earlier than in normal conditons.

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