Final answer:
The claim that the total body potassium content may be 1000 times greater than the serum potassium level is false; it is about 30 times greater. Potassium levels are regulated by sodium-potassium pumps, with high concentrations inside cells required for important metabolic functions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that the total body potassium content may be 1000 times greater than the serum potassium level is false. Potassium is the principal intracellular cation and is found in much higher concentrations inside cells than in the serum; however, the concentration is not 1000 times greater, but rather about 30 times higher inside than outside the cells. Serum potassium (K+) levels are typically maintained between 14-20 mg/100 ml, which are lower than intracellular levels, due to the activity of the sodium-potassium pumps within cell membranes that regulate potassium concentration gradients.
Hyperkalemia is a condition that illustrates the critical balance of potassium levels, as elevated serum potassium can have serious effects on muscular and neural function, including the heart. High intracellular potassium concentrations are essential for several important metabolic functions, such as protein biosynthesis