What are the effects of potassium imbalances in tissues?
Potassium imbalances, such as hypokalemia (low potassium) or hyperkalemia (high potassium), can lead to significant histological changes. Hypokalemia can cause muscle weakness, cramps, and cardiac arrhythmias, while hyperkalemia can lead to cardiac arrest. Histologically, these imbalances can be observed as changes in tissue structure and cellular integrity, particularly in excitable tissues like cardiac and skeletal muscle.
