Control of Calcium Balance Flashcards
What are the functions of calcium in the body?
Signalling Blood clotting Apoptosis Skeletal strength Membrane excitability
How does calcium affect membrane excitability?
Ca2+ decreases Na+ permeability
What is the effect of hypocalcaemia on membrane excitability?
Increases neuronal Na+ permeability
Hyper excitation of neurons
What can extreme cases of hypocalcaemia cause?
Tetany
What can happen if tetany spreads to the larynx and respiratory muscles?
Asphyxiation
Suffocating
What is the effect of hypercalcaemia on membrane excitability?
Decreases neuronal Na+ permeability
Reduces excitability
Depress neuromuscular activity
What is the distribution of calcium in the body?
Bones 99%
Intracellular fluid - 0.9%
Extracellular fluid - 01.%
Where is the vast majority of calcium found in our bodies?
In our bones
What % of calcium is found in our cells?
0.9%
What is calcium in our bones mostly in the form of?
Hydroxyapatite
What does calcium require to lay it down in the bones?
Phosphate homeostasis
What is the calcium level in the plasma?
2.2-2.6mM
What does calcium have a high affinity for?
Proteins
What % of calcium is bound to plasma proteins?
40%
In what form is calcium physiologically active?
Unbound calcium is active
How does Ca2+ binding change with pH?
Binding capacity increases under alkalotic conditions
What happens to calcium binding in hyperventillation?
Plasma pH rises
Binding capacity increase
Casing plasma Ca2++ to fall and therefore precipitate hypocalcaemic tetany
What happens to calcium binding in hypoventilation?
Acidosis occurs
Binding capacity reduces and free Ca2+ in plasma rises
Where does all the calcium that enters our body come from?
Diet
What happens if calcium levels are disrupted in the body?
The bone will release calcium at the expense of bone strength
What are osteoblasts?
Bone building cells
Highly active cells which lay down collagen extracellular matrix which then calcify
What do osteoblasts differentiate to form?
Osteocytes
What do osteoclasts do?
Cells that breakdown bones
Cells that are responsible for mobilizing bone
What 2 hormones control calcium homeostasis?
Parathyroid Hormone
Calcitriol
Where is PTH produced?
Parathyroid glands
Where is calcitriol produced?
Vitamin D by the liver and kidneys