Explain the significance of sodium, potassium, magnesium and calcium in biological fluids.
Answers
Significance of sodium:
⇒ Sodium ions are found primarily on the outside of cells, being located in blood plasma and in the interstitial fluid which surrounds the cells.
⇒ The ions participate in the transmission of nerve signals, in regulating the flow of water across cell membranes and in the transport of sugars and amino acids into cells.
Significance of potassium:
⇒ Potassium ions within the cells activate the enzymes and participate in the oxidation of glucose to produce ATP.
⇒ It combines with sodium and are responsible for the transmission of nerve signals.
Significance of magnesium:
⇒ Magnesium is required as the cofactor in all the enzymes that utilise ATP in phosphate transfer.
⇒ Magnesium is the main pigment for the adsorption of light in plants.
Significance of calcium:
⇒ About 99 % of body, calcium is present in bones and teeth.
⇒ It also plays important roles in neuromuscular function, interneuronal transmission, cell membrane integrity and blood coagulation.
Significance of sodium potassium, magnesium and calcium in biological fluids-
Sodium-
It is mainly found in blood plasma and also in the interstitial fluid which surrounds the cell.
Na^{+} ions help in the transmission of nerve signals also for the regulating water in the plasma membrane.
Also for the transport of sugars and amino acids into the cells.
Potassium-
These ions are highly present within cell fluids.
Helps in activating many enzymes
To produce ATP it oxidises the glucose molecule.
Also helps in the transmission of nerve signals.
Magnesium and calcium-
Plays an important role in neuromuscular function (by magnesium), interneuronal transmission, cell membrane integrity and blood coagulation(by calcium)
Mg helps in maintains normal blood circulation in our body.