Week 9 - Lab Values - Electrolytes + Na/K Pump

Question 1

What are electrolytes?

Answer 1

Electrically charged particles

Question 2

Electrolytes are essential for….?

Answer 2

Bodily functions

Question 3

Do the electrolyte concentrations vary between ICF and ECF?

Answer 3

Yes, For example, Na+ has a higher concentration in the ECF and K+ has a higher concentration in the ICF.

Question 4

What are activated by electrolyte activity?

Answer 4

Muscles and neurons

Question 5

What are the two different parts of ECF?

Answer 5

The plasma and the interstitial fluid

Question 6

What happens to the electrolyte charge as it crosses cell membranes?

Answer 6

Electrolytes maintain voltages across cell membranes and carry electrical activity.

Question 7

What can electrolytes help us regulate?

Answer 7

Water, blood pressure, and nerve and muscle function

- having an imbalance can lead to weaker muscles (too little), or can make muscles over-contract (too much).

Question 8

What type of mechanism is the Na+/K+ pump and what is required to make it work?

Answer 8

The pump is considered active transport mechanism, and it requires ATP in order to work.

Question 9

What is pumping into the cell (ICF) and what is pumping out of the cell (ECF)?

Answer 9

K+ is pumping into the cell (ICF), and Na+ is pumping out of the cell (ECF).

Question 10

Why is an active transport mechanism needed?

Answer 10

Because the electrolytes are going “against the grain” of normal diffusion. They are going from an area of low concentration to high concentration.

Question 11

What is the electrolyte ratio in the pump??

Answer 11

2 K+ in and 3 Na+ out