Patient Care Technician (PCT) AAH Practice Exam

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What term describes a condition of having too little potassium in the blood?

Hyperkalemia
Hypokalemia
Hypercalcemia
Hypomagnesium

The correct answer is: Hypokalemia

The term that describes a condition of having too little potassium in the blood is hypokalemia. This condition occurs when the serum potassium levels drop below the normal range, which can lead to various physiological complications. Potassium is essential for numerous bodily functions, including nerve transmission and muscle contraction. Decreased levels can result in symptoms such as muscle weakness, cramps, fatigue, and abnormal heart rhythms. Hyperkalemia, the first term, refers to an excess of potassium in the blood, which is the opposite of hypokalemia. Hypercalcemia relates to elevated levels of calcium in the blood, while hypomagnesemia refers to low levels of magnesium. Both of these conditions are unrelated to potassium levels and thus do not describe the state of hypokalemia.