Guide to Electrolytes

• Main intracellular fluid (ICF) cation

• Affects a cell’s electrical status when permeating cell membranes

• Regulates cell excitability

• Balances ICF osmolality and ICF osmotic pressure

• A leading ICF cation

• Contributes to enzymatic and metabolic processes (i.e. protein synthesis)

• Modifies neural communication, heart function and skeletal muscle response

• Main ICF anion

• Acts as a hydrogen buffer and acid/base balance

• Formation of red blood cells

• Supports energy storage and carbohydrate, protein, and fat metabolism

• Main extracellular fluid (ECF) cation

• Activates nerve and muscle cells

• Helps maintain acid-base balance

• Helps govern normal osmolality

• Maintains fluid balance in the blood

• Main ECF anion

• Helps maintain normal ECF osmolality

• Affects body pH

• Plays a vital role in maintaining acid-base balance; combines with hydrogen ions to produce hydrochloric acid

• A major cation in teeth and bones; found in fairly equal concentrations in ICF and ECF

• Helps cells maintain their shape and adhere to one another

• Acts as an enzyme activator within cells

• Aids blood coagulation

• Affects cell membrane permeability and firing level

• Important role in muscle contraction

• Inhibitory affect on neurons

• Present in ECF

• Primary function is regulating acid-base balance

• Affected by food, medications, kidney and lung function