Serum electrolytes Flashcards
Predominant cation in ECF
Sodium (Na)
Regarded as a marker of fluid status
Sodium (Na)
Hyponatremia may be due to:
increase in ECF component
decrease in over-all body sodium
Hypernatremia may be due to:
- water deficiency
- excess sodium intake
98% found intracellularly
Potassium (K)
Disproportionate ratio maintained by Na – K ATP-ase pump
Potassium (K)
Necessary, along with Na, for maintaining the resting potential of the cell membranes and for generation of the action potential
Potassium (K)
Hypokalemia may be due to:
- renal and GI losses
- cardiac problems
- sudden fall or fainting
- some drugs and renal alkalosis
Hyperkalemia may be due to:
- decrease renal excretion
- excess potassium intake
- excess cell breakdown
- some drugs and metabolic acidosis
Principle anion in ECF
Chloride (Cl)
Helps to maintain acid-base balance within the body
Chloride (Cl)
Hypochloremia may be due to:
vomiting
Hyperchloremia may be indicative of
metabolic acidosis
Represents the sum of [bicarbonate] and [sum of dissolved CO2]
Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
may be corrected by blowing off CO2 from the lungs or excreting H+ in
the urine
Acidosis
may be corrected by retaining CO2 from the lungs through decreased respiratory rate
Alkalosis
Necessary for nerve tissue excitability and muscle contractility
Calcium (Ca)
Calcium (Ca) is regulated by
PTH, calcitonin and Vitamin D
Free and unionized form is physiologically active
Calcium (Ca)
Must correct serum calcium in low-protein states as follows
Calcium (Ca)
Hypocalcemia may be due to:
- deficiencies in the production or response to PTH
- deficiencies in vitamin D
Hypercalcemia may be due to:
- hyperthyroidism
- malignancy, i.e. multiple myeloma or bone metastasis which leads to bone
- Paget’s disease
found primarily in bone and soft tissues
Phosphorus
Necessary for ATP production
Phosphorus
Phosphorus is _________ in ECF
<1%
Free, non-protein bound phosphorus exist in plasma as phosphate
Phosphate
T/F: Phosphate precipitates in physiologic and biochemical events
True
Hypophosphatemia may be due to:
- impaired ___________ absorption
- excessive __________ use
- protracted __________
- intestinal
- antacid
- vomiting
Hyperphosphatemia may be caused by:
- __________ insufficiency
- hypervitaminosis ______
- _____________
- renal
- renal
- hypoparathyroidism
Intracellular cation found primarily in bone and muscle
Magnesium
Involved in transfer, storage, and use of energy
Magnesium
Necessary for many enzymes involved in metabolism of CHO, protein, and fat
Magnesium
Necessary for the operation of Na, H, and Ca pumps and regulation of K and Ca channels
Magnesium
Essential for neuronal control, neuromuscular transmission, and cardiovascular tone
Magnesium
Hypomagnesemia may be due to:
- __________ PO intake
- prolonged ________ suction
- _______ resection
- severe ________
- _________ losses (i.e. due to some drugs)
- decreased
- NG
- bowel
- diarrhea
- renal
Hypermagnesemia may be due to:
- _____________ impairment (i.e. creatinine clearance <________/min)
- magnesium-containing ________ and ________
- renal (30mL)
- antacids; laxatives
