Hypokalaemia

Question 1

Hypokalaemia

Answer 1

Question 2

Hypokalaemia

Answer 2

For there to be too little K⁺in the blood there must be an:

• external balance shift
• internal balance shift

Question 3

Hypokalaemia

Internal Balance Shift

Excess Insulin

Answer 3

XS insulin secretion, insulin causes glucose to be taken up into cell and increases Na/K pump activity thus pulling K into cells from blood

Type I diabetics do’t produce enough insulin so have to have injections

XS insulin can cause too much K to be taken into cell causing hypokalaemia

Question 4

Hypokalaemia

Internal Balance Shift

Alkalosis

Answer 4

Blood becomes too alkaline meaning that there are too few hydrogen ions and pH rises

To lower pH can swap H ions for K ions into cell causong hypokalaemia

Respiratory alkalosis doesn’t cause disturbance in K ions

Question 5

Hypokalaemia

External Balance Shift

Low intake/Kidneys

Answer 5

Question 6

Hypokalaemia

External Balance Shift

AldosteroneCut

Answer 6

Aldosterone inc Na and K channels on the lumen side of the the principle cell, as well as Na/K pumps on the baso lateral side of the cell

In PRIMARY HYPERALDOSTERONISM (too much aldosterone) more K excreted and less K retained causing hypokalaemia

Question 7

Hypokalaemia

Diuretics

Answer 7

Loop diuretics and thiazide diuretics can cause hypokalaemia

Question 8

Hypokalaemia

External Balance shift

Loss of GI secretions

Answer 8

Small amount lost in sweat

Question 9

Hypokalaemia

Answer 9

Resting membrane potential decreases, means that muscle cells become less reactive to stimuli

Question 10

Hypokalaemia

Diagnosis/Treatment

Answer 10

Question 11

Hypokalaemia

Summary

Answer 11