In: Anatomy and Physiology
In a patient suffering a severe burn, blood potassium levels rise due to the tissues dying and the cells rupturing and releasing their contents into the blood. In a patient suffering a severe burn, the blood potassium level is 8.7 mM while the intracellular level for the intact cells slightly rises to 160 mM.
2. Calculate the resting membrane potential using the above values for potassium and 14 mM for the internal concentration of sodium and 140 mM as the external concentration of sodium.
Answer: - 25.08 mV
Let us tabulate the information that is given to us in the question.
Out | in | |
[K+] | 8.7 mM | 160 mM |
[Na+] | 140 mM | 14 mM |
The equation to be used is Goldman-Hodgkin-Katz equation.The answer has been worked out in the images below. The complex working has been simplified in two parts separately for ease of understanding.
PK / PNa = 1 / 0.4 (relative permeability of K and Na ions)
PNa = permeability of Na+
PK = permability of K+