Questions and Answers
What is the overall charge of cations?
Which of the following is NOT considered a major cation in the body?
Identify the electrolyte that is NOT a cation.
What does the milliequivalent (mEq) represent?
Signup and view all the answers
Sodium is classified as which type of cation?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the correct classification of sodium in terms of its charge and the type of anion it can react with?
Signup and view all the answers
Which mineral is essential for bone health and is involved in blood clotting?
Signup and view all the answers
Which extracellular cation is the primary regulator of water distribution in the body?
Signup and view all the answers
What essential role does potassium play in the body?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a likely consequence of hyperkalemia?
Signup and view all the answers
Which buffer is primarily utilized in circulating body fluids?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the chemical formula for sodium bicarbonate?
Signup and view all the answers
Which electrolyte is most actively involved in metabolic processes?
Signup and view all the answers
What is one of the additional benefits of pumping sodium out of the cell and potassium into the cell?
Signup and view all the answers
Osmosis primarily involves water movement in relation to which of the following?
Signup and view all the answers
The primary goal of osmosis is to achieve what condition between cell membranes?
Signup and view all the answers
What determines the tonicity of a solution?
Signup and view all the answers
Which term describes the internal environment's ability to maintain stability despite changes?
Signup and view all the answers
How much fluid does a healthy person typically lose daily through various means?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a common characteristic of dehydration in elderly patients?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the net effect of osmosis on solute concentrations across a cell membrane?
Signup and view all the answers
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.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
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.
