Podcast
Questions and Answers
What percentage of calcium in the body is primarily found in bone?
What percentage of calcium in the body is primarily found in bone?
Which form accounts for the highest percentage of calcium in the blood?
Which form accounts for the highest percentage of calcium in the blood?
Why is the concentration of ionized Ca2+ in blood significantly higher than in the cytosol of muscle cells?
Why is the concentration of ionized Ca2+ in blood significantly higher than in the cytosol of muscle cells?
Which of the following is NOT a form that calcium in blood is distributed among?
Which of the following is NOT a form that calcium in blood is distributed among?
Signup and view all the answers
What change can dramatically affect calcium concentrations during critical care?
What change can dramatically affect calcium concentrations during critical care?
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
Calcium Distribution in the Body
- Approximately 99% of body calcium is found in bone.
- The remaining 1% is primarily in blood and other extracellular fluid (ECF).
- Intracellular calcium (cytosol) is very low in most cells.
- Blood ionized calcium concentration is significantly higher than in cardiac or smooth muscle cells (5,000-10,000 times greater).
- This large gradient is crucial for rapid calcium influx.
Forms of Blood Calcium
- 45% of blood calcium is free ionized calcium.
- 40% is bound to protein, mainly albumin.
- 15% is bound to anions like bicarbonate, citrate, phosphate, and lactate.
Calcium Measurement Considerations
- Blood calcium levels are affected by factors like citrate, bicarbonate, lactate, phosphate, and albumin concentrations.
- These factors can significantly fluctuate in conditions like critical illness or surgery.
- Consequently, total calcium levels are not a reliable predictor of ionized calcium, particularly in acutely ill patients.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Description
This quiz explores the role and distribution of calcium in the human body, highlighting the significant presence in bones and its crucial role in blood. It also discusses the different forms of blood calcium and the factors affecting calcium measurement. Ideal for students studying physiology or health sciences.