Ca and bone physiology Flashcards
What is the normal plasma [Ca]?
9-10.5 mg/dL
What three forms does Ca take in the body?
Free/ionized
Protein bound
Anion bound
What is the relationship between plasma pH and bound Ca levels?
Lower pH = less Ca bound to protein
Significant decrease in plasma calcium can lead to death because of what effect?
because of the effect of calcium on nerve excitability
As extracellular calcium concentration gets lower, sodium channels open (more/less) readily?
More
What happens to the membrane potential of neurons with hypocalcemia?
Makes it closer to membrane potential, making the neuron more excitable
Does hypocalcemia cause tetany or flaccid paralysis?
tetany
What is Trousseau sign?
Contraction of the hand when a BP cuff is applied. This is caused by hypocalcemia
What is Chvostek sign?
When the facial nerve is tapped at the angle of the jaw, the facial muscles on the same side of the face will contract momentarily (typically a twitch of the nose or lips) because of hypocalcemia
What is the effect of hypocalcemia on the heart?
CHF
When the concentration of calcium is higher than normal the voltage-regulated sodium channels are (more or less) likely to open at any given cell membrane potential?
Less
What is the effect of low [Ca] on membrane potential?
Lowers threshold, leading to hyperexcitability
• Some calcium enters the GI tract from the body e.g. sloughing of cells that line GI tract, in various secretions into GI tract. Why is this not problematic?
This loss of calcium relatively fixed and less than calcium uptake
What is the effect of increased Vitamin D on calcium uptake?
Increases uptake
The higher the plasma [Ca] levels, the higher or lower the threshold?
higher
How tightly regulated is plasma phosphate concentration relative to [Ca]?
Much less
What is the normal range for plasma [phosphate]?
3-4.5 mg/dL
What is the main circulating form of phosphate? How filterable is this?
Free, inorganic ion–very filterable
Where is phosphate stored? What form is this in?
Bone
Stored as hydroxyapatite
What is the role that vitamin D plays in phosphate uptake from the diet?
Increases, but only marginally
What is the role of PTH on phosphate secretion?
greatly increase phosphate excretion by the kidneys.
What is the primary regulator of phosphate?
FGF23
What is the effect of FGF23 on the production of calcitriol?
Decreases
What is the specialized channel on the intestinal epithelium that moves Ca into the epithelial cells?
TRPV5/6
What is the protein in the intestinal epithelial cells that binds to Ca and moves it across the lumen?
Calbindin
What is the transporter that moves Ca from the intracellular fluid of the intestinal cytoplasm to the plasma?
Plasma membrane Ca ATPase
What is the most important bone salt?
hydroxyapatite
Why does hydroxyapatite precipitate in bone and not in other tissues?
There are inhibitors found in other body tissues including plasma to prevent precipitation.
What are the two effects of PTH has in the Ca pathway?
Increases calcitriol synthesis
Increases phosphate excretion
What are the two effects of FGF23 has in the Ca pathway?
Decreases calcitriol synthesis
Increases phosphate excretion
Why is it important that PTH and calcitriol have opposite effects on calcitriol synthesis, but both contribute to phosphate excretion?
Can increase phosphate excretion without changing calcitriol synthesis
What is the major protein found in bone?
Collagen I
What is the chemical that stimulates osteoblasts?
Growth hormone