Hyperkalemia

Question 1

Definition of hyperkalemia

Answer 1

Too much potassium in the blood. Generally greater than 5.5 mEq/L

Question 2

Extracellular space

Answer 2

Intravascular space (inside blood vessels and lymphatic vessels)
Interstitial space (the space between cells)

Question 3

Intracellular space

Answer 3

space inside the cells

98% of potassium

Question 4

concentration of k inside cell

Answer 4

150 mEq/L

Question 5

concentration of K outside the cell

Answer 5

4.5 mEq/L

Question 6

What maintains the internal K balance

Answer 6

Na/K potassium pump 3 na out for 2 k in

Question 7

What is the importance of the electrochemical gradient of the membrane

Answer 7

sets resting membrane potential that is needed for contraction of smooth, cardiac, and skeletal muscle.

Question 8

What 3 ways/systems can we get rid of excess potassium?

Answer 8

kidneys
GI
Sweat

Question 9

What is an external balance shift of potassium

Answer 9

When we cannot excrete k fast enough like through kidneys, gi, or sweat

Question 10

What is an internal balance shift of k

Answer 10

when k moves out of cells into the blood or an issue when k can’t move into cells.

Question 11

What can cause an internal balance shift of k

Answer 11

Insulin deficiency. This is because insulin increases activity of na/k pump. without insulin there’s no k going into the cells.

Metabolic Acidosis. Hydrogen gets moved out of the blood into the cells in exchange for potassium