ELECTROLYTES BALANCE

INTRODUCTION:
Well over half of the body's weight is made up of water. Doctors think about the body's
water as being restricted to various spaces, called fluid compartments. The three main
compartments are
 Fluid within cells
 Fluid in the space around cells
 Blood
To function normally, the body must keep fluid levels from varying too much in these
areas.
Some minerals—especially the macrominerals (minerals the body needs in relatively
large amounts)—are important as electrolytes. Electrolytes are minerals that carry an
electric charge when they are dissolved in a liquid such as blood. The blood electrolytes
—sodium, potassium, chloride, and bicarbonate—help regulate nerve and muscle
function and maintain acid-base balance and water balance.
Electrolytes, particularly sodium, help the body maintain normal fluid levels in the fluid
compartments because the amount of fluid a compartment contains depends on the
amount (concentration) of electrolytes in it. If the electrolyte concentration is high, fluid
moves into that compartment (a process called osmosis). Likewise, if the electrolyte
concentration is low, fluid moves out of that compartment. To adjust fluid levels, the
body can actively move electrolytes in or out of cells. Thus, having electrolytes in the
right concentrations (called electrolyte balance) is important in maintaining fluid balance
among the compartments.
The kidneys help maintain electrolyte concentrations by filtering electrolytes and water
from blood, returning some to the blood, and excreting any excess into the urine. Thus,
the kidneys help maintain a balance between daily consumption and excretion of
electrolytes and water.
If the balance of electrolytes is disturbed, disorders can develop. For example, an
electrolyte imbalance can result from the following:
 Becoming dehydrated or overhydrated
 Taking certain drugs
 Having certain heart, kidney, or liver disorders
 Being given intravenous fluids or feedings in inappropriate amounts

FUNCTION OF ELECTROLYTES
Nervous System Function
Your brain sends electrical signals through your nerve cells to communicate with the
cells throughout your body.
These signals are called nervous impulses, and they’re generated by changes to the
electrical charge of the nerve cell membrane.
The changes occur due to the movement of the electrolyte sodium across the nerve cell
membrane.
When this happens, it sets off a chain reaction, moving more sodium ions (and the
change in charge) along the length of the nerve cell axon.
Muscle Function
The electrolyte calcium is needed for muscle contraction (7Trusted Source).
It allows muscle fibers to slide together and move over each other as the muscle
shortens and contracts.
Magnesium is also required in this process so that the muscle fibers can slide outward
and muscles can relax after contraction.
Proper Hydration
Water must be kept in the right amounts both inside and outside each cell in your body.
Electrolytes, particularly sodium, help maintain fluid balance through osmosis.
Osmosis is a process where water moves through the wall of a cell membrane from a
dilute solution (more water and fewer electrolytes) toward a more concentrated solution
(less water and more electrolytes).
This prevents cells from bursting from being too full or shriveling up due to dehydration.
Internal pH Levels
To stay healthy, your body needs to regulate its internal pH. pH is a measure of how
acidic or alkaline a solution is. In your body, it’s regulated by chemical buffers, or weak
acids and bases, which help minimize changes in your internal environment.
For example, your blood is regulated to stay at a pH of around 7.35 to 7.45. If it deviates
from this, your body can’t function properly, and you become unwell.
Having the right balance of electrolytes is fundamental to maintaining your blood pH
level.

COMMON ELECTROLYTES IN
THE CELL. MAKE AN
ILLUTRATION/IMAGE DISTRIBUTING EACH ELECTROLYTES IN DIFFERENT
COMPARTMENT OF THE CELL.

MAKE A TABLE SUMMARIZING THE FUNCTION OF EACH MAJOR

ELECTROLYTES

NORMAL VALUES OF EACH MAJOR ELECTROLYTES