The nurse is caring for a patient with a low calcium level. The nurse realizes that which of the following phases of cardiac action potential can be affected?

Question

1. plateau
2. depolarization
3. resting membrane potential
4. early repolarization

Answer 1

1

Rationale: During the plateau phase, calcium channels open. The influx of calcium maintains the positive charge or depolarization a little longer. In depolarization, more sodium moves into the cell through the fast sodium channels and creates a fast response action potential. In early repolarization, the sodium channels close. During the resting membrane potential phase, repolarization is completed, and the original electrochemical gradient is in place.