ELECTROLYTES

dedykusuma@ugm.ac.id
Electrolyte homeostasis
• The fluid surrounding the cells in the body must maintain a specific
concentration of electrolytes for the cells to function properly
Concentration in fluid compartments
ECF
Electrolytes ICF
Interstitial Plasma
Na+ Sodium 145 142 10
K+ Potassium 4 4 140
Ca2+ Calcium 3 5 0.2
Mg2+ Magnesium 2 2 35
Cl- Chloride 117 100 3
HCO3- Bicarbonate 27 24 15
HPO42-(organic) Phosphate 2 2 100
SO42- Sulfate 1 1 20
Protein anions 2 20 50
Electrolyte balance
• Electrolytes are a major component of body fluids. They enter the
body in the food we eat and the beverages we drink.
• While electrolytes leave the body mainly through the kidneys by way
of the urine, they also leave through the skin and feces.
• Severe vomiting and diarrhea can cause a loss of both water and
electrolytes from the body, resulting in both water and electrolyte
imbalances.
• The concentrations of electrolytes in body fluids must be maintained
within specific limits, and even a small deviation outside these limits
can have serious or life-threatening consequences.
Fluid Movement Across the Cell Membrane
• One of the important functions of electrolytes, particularly sodium, is
to control fluid movement between fluid compartments.
• The movement of fluid across the cell membrane differs from the
movement of fluid between the interstitial compartment and plasma.

X
A

Y
C
Soal Jawab
Ion Na paling banyak di .. …

Ion K paling banyak di … … X

A
Protein paling banyak di … …

Perpindahan water melalui … B

proses osmosis melewati
membran sel terjadi di … Y
C
Perpindahan ion dan water …
melalui gap endotel terjadi
di …
Fluid Movement: Sodium/Potassium Ion
Pump
• The cell membrane acts as a barrier to separate intracellular and
interstitial fluid compartments.
• Electrolytes move across the cell membrane through channels and
ion pumps that are selective for specific ions.
• The sodium/potassium ion pump to see the actively transports
sodium and potassium.
• Ion pumps in the membrane help ions to move against their concentration
gradient from an area of lower concentration to an area of higher
concentration. These pumps require an input of energy in the form of ATP.
ICF

Ion Na channel

Na/K pump

Ion K channel

ECF
Fluid Movement Between Interstitial Fluid
and Plasma

Hydrostatic Osmotic
pressure pressure
Electrolyte imbalance
• Edema is an accumulation of fluid in the interstitial compartment,
and can occur either locally, in a specific area of the body, or
generally, throughout the body.
• Although edema first appears to be a disturbance of water levels in
the body, in many cases it occurs as a result of electrolyte imbalance.
A lack of plasma protein commonly causes edema.
Sodium (Na2+)
Renal failure
Hypernatremia Na retention Increased Blood osmotic pressure
Hyperaldosteronism

Adrenal insufficiency
Hyponatremia Urinary Na loss Water is osmotically retained
Diuretic drugs

Water loss Increased Blood volume

Decreased Blood volume Increased Blood pressure

Hypovolemia Edema
Chloride (Cl )
-

Keywords
• Most prevalent anions in ECF
• Moves relatively easily between ECF and ICF
• Help balance level of anions in different fluid compartments

Regulation:
• ADH help regulate Cl balance à govern extent of water loss in urine
• Increase or decrease reabsorption of Na
Potassium (K )
+

Keywords:
• Most abundant cations in ICF
• Establishing resting membrane potentials and repolarization phase in
muscle fibers and neurons
• Maintain normal ICF volume
• Help regulate pH

Regulation:
• Aldosterone secretion à K level is high
Bicarbonate (HCO3 -)

Keywords:
• Second most prevalence anions in ECF
• HCO3 increase: systemic capillaries à H2O + CO2 = H2CO3 à H + HCO3
• HCO3 decrease: pulmonary capillaries à CO2 is exhaled
• Help to maintain correct balance anions in ECF and ICF

Regulation:
• Low level à Kidney (intercalated cell) à form HCO3 and release it into the
blood
• High level à Kidney excrete excess HCO3 in the urine
Calcium (Ca )
2+

Keywords:
• Ca is mainly ECF cations
• Located in skeleton and teeth
• Plays important role in blood clothing, neurotransmitter release, maintenance of muscle
tone, excitability of neurons and muscle tissues

Regulation:
• PTH hormone (low blood level of Ca):
à stimulate bone resorption,
àReabsorption Ca from glomerular filtrate
à increases production of calcitriol à increase Ca absorption from food
• Calcitonin (high blood level of Ca)
à produced by thyroid gland: inhibit activity of osteoclast, accelerates Ca deposition in bone
Phosphate (PO4 -)

Keywords:
• Important anions in ICF and important buffer of H
• Most are covalently bond to organic molecules (phospholipid, nucleic acid,
ATP)

Regulation:
• Low phosphate level: PTH and Calcitriol (the same with the regulation of
Calcium)
• High phosphate level: PTH increase urine excretion
• Fibroblast growth factors (FGF 23): decreases HPO4 blood level via urine
excretion and decreasing absorption of HPO4 by GI tract
Magnesium (Mg )
+

Keywords:
• Second most common ICF cation
• Cofactors of enzymes for carbohydrate and protein metabolism
• Essential for normal neuromuscular activity, synaptic transmission,
myocardial function
• Important factor of PTH secretion

Regulation:
• Kidney by increase and decrease renal excretion of Mg
CREATININE
Creatinine
• Breakdown of creatine phosphate in muscle fibers
• Indicator for renal failure
• Synthesis:
• Liver, Kidney, and Pancreas
• Indicator for measuring Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR)