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The ion composition of perilymph is like that of interstitial fluid; high sodium and low potassium levels. If someone ruptured the vestibular membrane, the membrane between the vestibular duct (Scala vestibuli) and the cochlear duct (Scala media), what would be the effect of such a rupture on the concentration of potassium in the endolymph in the cochlear duct

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Answer:

The concentration of potassium will decrease

Step-by-step explanation:

The cochlear ducts are composed of two distict types of fluids: 1-perilymph, rich in sodium (140 mM) and low in potassium (5 mM), and 2- endolymph, rich in potassium (1 mM) and low in sodium (150 mM). The perilymph fluid has a similar composition to the rest of the extracellular fluids, while endolymph present a unique ion composition that is not found in other fluids of the body. It is believed that the cochlea can regulate potassium flow without using energy (i.e., without use ATP), since potassium enters into the cells through passive pathways, while this ion ion leaves the cells by an active mechanism.

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