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Questions and Answers
What is the overall charge of cations?
What is the overall charge of cations?
Which of the following is NOT considered a major cation in the body?
Which of the following is NOT considered a major cation in the body?
Identify the electrolyte that is NOT a cation.
Identify the electrolyte that is NOT a cation.
What does the milliequivalent (mEq) represent?
What does the milliequivalent (mEq) represent?
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Sodium is classified as which type of cation?
Sodium is classified as which type of cation?
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What is the correct classification of sodium in terms of its charge and the type of anion it can react with?
What is the correct classification of sodium in terms of its charge and the type of anion it can react with?
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Which mineral is essential for bone health and is involved in blood clotting?
Which mineral is essential for bone health and is involved in blood clotting?
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Which extracellular cation is the primary regulator of water distribution in the body?
Which extracellular cation is the primary regulator of water distribution in the body?
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What essential role does potassium play in the body?
What essential role does potassium play in the body?
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What is a likely consequence of hyperkalemia?
What is a likely consequence of hyperkalemia?
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Which buffer is primarily utilized in circulating body fluids?
Which buffer is primarily utilized in circulating body fluids?
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What is the chemical formula for sodium bicarbonate?
What is the chemical formula for sodium bicarbonate?
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Which electrolyte is most actively involved in metabolic processes?
Which electrolyte is most actively involved in metabolic processes?
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What is one of the additional benefits of pumping sodium out of the cell and potassium into the cell?
What is one of the additional benefits of pumping sodium out of the cell and potassium into the cell?
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Osmosis primarily involves water movement in relation to which of the following?
Osmosis primarily involves water movement in relation to which of the following?
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The primary goal of osmosis is to achieve what condition between cell membranes?
The primary goal of osmosis is to achieve what condition between cell membranes?
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What determines the tonicity of a solution?
What determines the tonicity of a solution?
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Which term describes the internal environment's ability to maintain stability despite changes?
Which term describes the internal environment's ability to maintain stability despite changes?
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How much fluid does a healthy person typically lose daily through various means?
How much fluid does a healthy person typically lose daily through various means?
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What is a common characteristic of dehydration in elderly patients?
What is a common characteristic of dehydration in elderly patients?
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What is the net effect of osmosis on solute concentrations across a cell membrane?
What is the net effect of osmosis on solute concentrations across a cell membrane?
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Study Notes
Cations and Anions
- Cations carry a positive charge; they are electrolytes with an overall positive charge.
- Anions carry a negative charge; they are electrolytes with an overall negative charge.
Major Cations in the Body
- The major cations in the human body include sodium, calcium, and potassium.
- Bicarbonate is NOT considered a major cation.
Identifying Electrolytes
- Not all electrolytes are cations; for example, chloride is an anion and is NOT a cation.
- Key cations: Calcium, Potassium, Magnesium.
Milliequivalents (mEq)
- Milliequivalent (mEq) measures the chemical combining power of an ion based on the number of available ionic charges.
- It reflects the ion's ability to react with electrolytes of the same charge rather than the percentage of a specific ion in solution.
Sodium Characteristics
- Sodium is classified as a monovalent cation, meaning it can react with a singly charged anion at a ratio of 1 mEq.
- Understanding the reactivity of sodium is essential for studying electrolyte balance and its physiological roles.
Sodium and Calcium
- Sodium is a monovalent cation, reacting completely with 1 mEq of a singly charged anion.
- Calcium is essential for bone growth and blood clotting.
- Hypocalcemia should be suspected in patients with ataxia.
- Elevated abdominal cramps signify increased serum calcium levels.
Electrolytes and Their Functions
- Sodium is the principal extracellular cation, crucial for regulating water distribution in the body.
- Potassium plays a crucial role in neuromuscular function and stimulates insulin release.
- Hyperkalemia can lead to hyperstimulation of neural cell transmission and affects gastrointestinal and skeletal muscle function.
Buffers and Chemical Significance
- The primary buffer in circulating body fluids is bicarbonate.
- The chemical formula for sodium bicarbonate is NaHCO3.
- Magnesium actively participates in metabolism.
Movement and Regulation of Compounds
- Movement of compounds across a cell membrane to lower concentration is called diffusion.
- The antidiuretic hormone (ADH) helps retain water during filtration in kidneys.
- Sodium-potassium pumping facilitates glucose transport into the cell.
Principles of Osmosis
- Osmosis occurs when water moves from an area of lower solute concentration to an area of higher solute concentration.
- The net effect of osmosis is to equalize solute concentrations across the cell membrane.
- Tonicity of a solution relates to sodium concentration and its effect on water movement across the cell membrane.
Homeostasis and Fluid Loss
- The body's resistance to environmental change is termed homeostasis.
- A healthy individual loses approximately 2 to 2.5 liters of fluid daily through urine, exhalation, and skin.
Dehydration
- Dehydration can be a chronic condition in the elderly, taking days to manifest symptoms.
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Description
Test your understanding of cations and anions, their roles as electrolytes in the human body, and the major cations involved in physiological functions. This quiz also covers the concept of milliequivalents and specific characteristics of sodium as a cation.
