Magnesium in the Human Body

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Questions and Answers

What percentage of magnesium in the human body is found in muscle and other organs?

100%
46% (correct)
53%
24%

Which of the following statements about magnesium in serum is true?

One third of serum magnesium is bound to proteins. (correct)
All magnesium in serum is free ionized magnesium.
Magnesium in serum constitutes over 5% of total body magnesium.
A majority of magnesium is complexed with phosphate.

How much magnesium is typically found in a 70 kg human body?

100 moles
1 mole (24 grams) (correct)
46 grams
53 grams

What is the main form of magnesium that is physiologically active in the body?

<p>Free or ionized magnesium (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following ions shows a similar physiological role to magnesium in the body?

<p>Ca2+ (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Magnesium: Abundance and Importance

Magnesium, denoted as Mg2+, is the fourth most abundant positively charged ion in the human body, playing a crucial role in various bodily functions.

Magnesium Distribution in the Body

Around 53% of the body's magnesium is stored in the bones, 46% in muscles and other tissues, and less than 1% is found in the blood and red blood cells.

Bound vs. Free Magnesium

The majority of magnesium in the blood is bound to proteins, primarily albumin. However, it's the free, unbound magnesium that is biologically active and influences physiological processes.

Intracellular Magnesium

While magnesium is the second most abundant ion inside cells, it represents only a small fraction of total magnesium in the body.

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Magnesium's Active Form

Similar to calcium (Ca2+), it's the free, unbound magnesium ion that's crucial for bodily functions.

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Study Notes

Magnesium in the Body

Magnesium (Mg2+) is the fourth most abundant cation in the human body and the second most abundant intracellular ion.
An average 70 kg human body contains approximately 1 mole (24 grams) of magnesium.
Bone stores about 53% of the total body magnesium.
Muscle and other organs/soft tissue hold about 46%.
Only less than 1% is found in serum and red blood cells.
In serum, about one-third of the magnesium is bound to protein, primarily albumin.
The remaining two-thirds of the serum magnesium are present in two forms: about 61% as a free/ionized ion, and about 5% as complexes with other ions like phosphate (PO4-) and citrate.
Similar to calcium (Ca2+), the free, ionized form of magnesium is physiologically active.