Advancing the teaching of equilibrium potential: five small yet transformative additions.

The equilibrium potential of an ion species is a crucial concept for medical students, as it is a prerequisite to fully understanding the pathophysiology of K imbalances (hyperkalemia and hypokalemia) in clinical practice. However, it remains a challenging concept because current medical physiology textbooks are too simplistic and overlook several essential points. In this article, we present a total of five small but impactful additions to advance the introduction of the equilibrium potential that will eliminate confusion and facilitate mastery-level comprehension. This novel approach to advance teaching of the equilibrium potential () addresses and fills common educational gaps by ) making a critical point explicit, rather than implicit; ) introducing overlooked concepts to prevent confusion; ) adding an effective assessment to promote mastery; and ) emphasizing the importance of strengthening medical students' understanding of . These targeted additions facilitate a more comprehensive and transformative learning experience for medical students.