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Hyperkalemic paralysis is caused by too much potassium in the CNS. What is a lik

ID: 3480029 • Letter: H

Question

Hyperkalemic paralysis is caused by too much potassium in the CNS. What is a likely explanation for this phenomenon?

The alteration of normal potassium levels disrupts the action potential.

Neurotransmitters cannot be generated without potassium.

The spinal cord is severed as a result of disruption in potassium levels.

Lack of potassium at the synapse causes neurotransmitter not to be released.

Muscles need potassium for normal function.

Hyperkalemic paralysis is caused by too much potassium in the CNS. What is a likely explanation for this phenomenon?

The alteration of normal potassium levels disrupts the action potential.

Neurotransmitters cannot be generated without potassium.

The spinal cord is severed as a result of disruption in potassium levels.

Lack of potassium at the synapse causes neurotransmitter not to be released.

Muscles need potassium for normal function.

Explanation / Answer

Hyperkalemia is defined as increased potassium levels in blood causing muscles to become flaccid and loss it's contractility. The cause for this is the muscle contraction is based on the permibility of ions across the muscle cell membrane. This is mediated by voltage gated ion channels present in sarcolemma. During hyperkalemia there is a disturbance in the ions within and outside the cell. High levels of pottasium causes more permeability of k+ inside the cells causing disturbance in action potential. Thus causing muscle to paralysed.

So the answer is The alteration of normal pottasium levels disrupts the action potential.