Electrolytes

Question 1

What are electrolytes?

Answer 1

Minerals in your body that have an electrical charge

Question 2

What are the 7 major electrolytes in the body?

Answer 2

• Potassium K+
• Sodium Na+
• Chloride Cl-
• Magnesium Mg2+
• Calcium Ca2+
• Phosphate PO43-
• Bicarbonate HCO3-

Question 3

What are the two key roles of electrolytes?

Answer 3

• manipulation of osmotic power - regulation of fluid balance
• manipulation of charge movements - basis of nerve conduction

Question 4

What do electrolytes do? (7 points)

Answer 4

• conduct energy
• regulate fluid balance
• transport nutrients
• support proper muscle function
• help convert calories into energy
• regulate pH

Question 5

Sodium roles? (5 points)

Answer 5

• main action in ECF (extracellular fluid)
• promotes water retention
• maintains blood volume
• maintains blood pressure
• mostly in ECF

Question 6

Hypernatremia?

Answer 6

• sodium levels in the blood too low
  Causes - dehydration, water deprivation
  Symptoms - increased thirst, hypertension, agitation and convulsions

Question 7

Hyponatremia?

Answer 7

• sodium levels in the blood too low
  Causes - low sodium diet, too much water, vomiting
  Symptoms - muscular weakness, dizziness, hypotension

Question 8

Potassium roles? (4 points)

Answer 8

• main action in ICF (intracellular fluid)
• small amounts in ECF
• maintains normal ICF volume
• helps regulate fluid balance, muscle contractions and nerve balance

Question 9

Hyperkalemia?

Answer 9

• increase potassium in the blood
  Causes - renal failure, crush injury
  Symptoms - irritablity, nausea, vomiting, cardiac arrhythmias

Question 10

Hypokalemia?

Answer 10

• low blood potassium
  Causes - prolonged vomiting/diarrhoea, kidney disease, diuretics
  Symptoms - muscle fatigue, confusion, cardiac irregularities

Question 11

Calcium roles? (4 points)

Answer 11

• skeletal (bone) strength
• muscle contractions
• neurotransmitter
• blood clotting

Question 12

Hypercalcemia?

Answer 12

• high calcium blood levels

Symptoms - depressed reflexes, muscle contractions, cardiac arrhythmias

Question 13

Hypocalcemia?

Answer 13

• low blood calcium levels

Symptoms - abnormal nervous and muscular excitement, weak bones

Question 14

Chloride roles? (2 points)

Answer 14

• key counter electrolyte, contributes to osmolarity in the same way as sodium
• part of the normal stomach acid (hydrochloride)

Question 15

Hyperchloremia?

Answer 15

• Too much chloride in the blood
  Causes - dehydration, kidney failure
  Symptoms - fatigue, muscle weakness, extreme thrist

Question 16

Hypochloremia?

Answer 16

• low chloride levels in the blood
  Causes - use of diuretics, vomiting, side effect of hypernatrimea
  Symptoms - fatigue, muscle weakness, difficulty breathing

Question 17

Phosphate role? (4 points)

Answer 17

• energy
• components of phospholids and nucleic acid
• activating enzymes and metabolic pathways
• regulating pH