Electrolytes Flashcards
What is the function of electrolytes
Maintenance of water balance
Fluid osmotic pressure ( Na)
Muscular and nerve function (Ca)
List some electrolytes
Calcium Inorganic phosphorus Magnesium Potassium Chloride Sodium bicarbonate
What is the function of calcium in the blood
99% is in the bone 1% ionized in blood
Maintenance of neuromuscular excitability and tone ( muscle contraction)
Co-enzyme in Blood coagulation and other enzyme
It is mainly extra cellular
Inverse relationship with Phosphorus
What can elevations of calcium mean and cause
Elevations of Ca cancer ( lymphoma)- paraneoplastic syndrome
Hypercalcemia can cause PUPD
Hypocalcemia eclampsia
What happens if there is a Ca:P imbalance in the diet
If there is a Ca:P imbalance in the diet
All meat diet XS phosphorus secondary nutritional or renal hyperparathyroidism
Low Ca causes parathyroid gland to produce xs PTH
Describe the function of phosphorus in the body
80% is in Bone
20%
Energy storage and release
In nucleic acids and phospholipids
Most phosphorus in whole blood is on RBC s organic phosphorus
Hemolyzed samples will have a falsely elevated inorganic phosphorus concentration
What does elevated phosphorus usually mean
Elevation is often seen with kidney failure
Describe the function of sodium in the body
major cation of plasma and interstitial, or extracellular, fluid.
NB in water distribution and body fluid osmotic pressure
Aldosterone (adrenal gland) controls levels of Na and K
What is hypernatremia
In the kidney, sodium is filtered through the glomeruli and reabsorbed back into the body through the tubules in exchange, as needed, for hydrogen ions.
In this manner, sodium plays a vital role in pH regulation
When do you see hyponatremia
addisons
What is the function of potassium in the body
Needed for normal muscular function,
cardiac function,
nerve impulse transmission, and carbohydrate metabolism
When do you see hyperkalemia
Addison’s dse, blocked cats- hyperkalemia
What are the clinical signs of hyperkalemia
Clin signs- weakness, collapse, arrhythmias, bradycardia
When do you see hypokalemia
inadequate intake, alkalosis, or fluid loss resulting from vomiting or diarrhea.
Cats that are PUPD Animals on IV fluids especially cats
What are the clinical signs of hypokalemia
ventroflexion, weakness, depression
Describe the effects of hypokalemia on the body
The main effect of severe hypokalemia is generalized muscle weakness.
cats have difficulty in getting up and walking, and may appear almost “drunk” because of their weakness.
A common and characteristic sign of the muscle weakness is the inability to raise the head into a normal position, so that the head is held down..
What is the function of magnesium in the body
Magnesium is the fourth most common cation the body and the second most common intracellular cation
In all body tissues– 50% in bones
Magnesium activates enzymes
required for many enzyme-based reactions
Imbalance of the magnesium calcium ratio can result in muscular tetany
What is the function of chloride in the body
predominant extracellular anion.
maintenance of water distribution, osmotic pressure, and the normal anion/cation ratio
relationship to sodium and bicarbonate levels
Hyperchloremia /Hypochloremia
What is the function of bicarbonate in the body
Bicarbonate is the second most common anion of plasma.
pH balance
Bicarbonate/carbonic acid buffer system
aids in transport of carbon dioxide from the tissues to the lungs
Arterial blood-lithium heparin-chilled for bicarbonate determinations
What is the function of lactate in the body
Lactate concentration in blood is a measure of anaerobic metabolism, which occurs when cells are not getting enough oxygen to support normal aerobic energy production.
An elevated lactate level is most commonly caused by a decrease in blood flow to the cells, systemically or locally.
What does the anion gap measure
The Anion Gap measures the difference between the amount of the major cations and anions
What is the focal occult blood test done for
To determine small amounts of blood loss
Dramatic bleed evident as black feces (melena) or frank fecal blood (hematochezia)
meat free diet for 3 days before the test
What is the focal proteolytic activity test done for
the evaluation of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in cats and other species
X-ray film
Describe how the lipid absorption test is done
12 hour fast
Take blood- no lipemia
Give corn oil- take blood every hour look for lipemia
Repeat test with digested corn oil to help differrerentiate b/n maldigestion /malabsorption
What is the NT-proBNP test used for
NT-proBNP– USE AS A screening test
For dogs with murmurs etc
What is the cardiac toponin 1 test
Marker of cardiac myocyte injury
Test is done on Serum
What is the mucin clot test used for
Synovial fluid forms a mucin clot when added to acetic acid
Eveluate hyaluronic acid in joint
