MPU3343 Nutrition and Public Health

Glossary
Chapter 7 Water and the Major Minerals

No Term / Word Definition / Meaning

Glossary
1 Adrenal glands Glands adjacent to, and just above, each kidney.
2 Aldosterone (al-DOS- A hormone secreted by the adrenal glands that regulates blood pressure
ter-own) by increasing the reabsorption of sodium by the kidneys. Aldosterone
also regulates chloride and potassium concentrations.
3 Angiotensin I (AN- An inactive precursor that is converted by an enzyme to yield active
gee-oh-TEN-sin) angiotensin II.
4 Angiotensin II A hormone involved in blood pressure regulation.
5 Anions (AN-eye-uns) Negatively charged ions.
6 Antidiuretic hormone A hormone produced by the pituitary gland in response to dehydration
(ADH) (or a high sodium concentration in the blood) that stimulates the kidneys
to reabsorb more water and therefore to excrete less. In addition to its
antidiuretic effect, ADH elevates blood pressure and so is also called
vasopressin (VAS-oh-PRES-in).
Vaso = vessel
Press = pressure
7 Bicarbonate An alkaline compound with the formula HCO3 that is produced in all
cell fluids from the dissociation of carbonic acid to help maintain the
body's acid-base balance. Bicarbonate is also secreted from the pancreas
as part of the pancreatic juice.
8 Binders Chemical compounds in foods that combine with nutrients (especially
minerals) to form complexes the body cannot absorb. Examples include
phytates (FYE-tates) and oxalates (OCK-sa-lates).
9 Bioavailability The rate at and the extent to which a nutrient is absorbed and used.
10 Bottled water Drinking water sold in bottles.
11 Buffers Compounds that keep a solution's pH constant when acids or bases are
added.
12 Calcitonin (KAL-seh- A hormone secreted by the thyroid gland that regulates blood calcium by
TOE-nin) lowering it when levels rise too high.
13 Calcium The most abundant mineral in the body; found primarily in the body's
bones and teeth.
14 Calcium-binding A protein in the intestinal cells, made with the help of vitamin D, that
protein facilitates calcium absorption.
15 Calcium rigor Hardness or stiffness of the muscles caused by high blood calcium
concentrations.
16 Calcium tetany (TET- Intermittent spasm of the extremities due to nervous and muscular
ah-nee) excitability caused by low blood calcium concentrations.
17 Calmodulin (cal- A calcium-binding protein that regulates such cell activities as muscle
MOD-you-lin) contractions.
18 Carbonic acid A compound with the formula H2CO3 that results from the combination
of carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O); of particular importance in
maintaining the body's acid-base balance.
19 Cations (CAT-eye- Positively charged ions.
uns)
20 Chloride (KLO-ride) The major anion in the extracellular fluids of the body. Chloride is the
ionic form of chlorine, Cl-.
21 Dehydration The condition in which body water output exceeds water input.
Symptoms include thirst, dry skin and mucous membranes, rapid
heartbeat, low blood pressure and weakness.

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22 Dissociates (dis-SO- Physically separates.

see-aites)
23 Electrolytes Salts that dissolve in water and dissociate into charged particles called
ions.
24 Electrolyte solutions Solutions that can conduct electricity.
25 Extracellular fluid Fluid outside the cells. Extracellular fluid includes two main
components—the interstitial fluid between cells and the intravascular
fluid of plasma. Extracellular fluid accounts for approximately one-third
of the body's water.
Extra = outside
26 Hard water Water with a high calcium and magnesium content.
27 Hydroxyapatite (high- Crystals made of calcium and phosphorus.
drox-ee-APP-ah-tite)
28 Hyponatremia (HIGH- A decreased concentration of sodium in the blood.
po-na-TREE-me-ah)
29 Hypothalamus A brain center that controls activities such as maintenance of water
balance, regulation of body temperature and control of appetite.
30 Interstitial (IN-ter- Fluid between the cells (intercellular), usually high in sodium and
STISH-al) fluid chloride. Interstitial fluid is a large component of extracellular fluid.
Inter = in the midst, between
31 Intracellular fluid Fluid within the cells, usually high in potassium and phosphate.
Intracellular fluid accounts for approximately two-thirds of the body's
water.
Intra = within
32 Ions (EYE-uns) Atoms or molecules that have gained or lost electrons and therefore have
electrical charges. Examples include the positively charged sodium ion
(Na+) and the negatively charged chloride ion (Cl-).
33 Magnesium A cation within the body's cells, active in many enzyme systems.
34 Major minerals Essential mineral nutrients the human body requires in relatively large
amounts (greater than 100 milligrams per day); sometimes called
macrominerals.
35 Metabolic water Water generated during metabolism.
36 Milliequivalents per The concentration of electrolytes in a volume of solution.
liter (mEq/L) Milliequivalents reveal characteristics about the solution that are not
evident when the concentration is expressed in terms of weight.
37 Mineralization The process in which calcium, phosphorus and other minerals crystallize
on the collagen matrix of a growing bone, hardening the bone.
38 Obligatory (ah-BLIG- The minimum amount of water the body has to excrete each day to
ah-TORE-ee) water dispose of its wastes—about 500 mL (about 2 cups or 1 pint).
excretion
39 Oral rehydration The administration of a simple solution of sugar, salt and water, taken by
therapy (ORT) mouth, to treat dehydration caused by diarrhea.
40 Osmosis The movement of water across a membrane toward the side where the
solutes are more concentrated.
41 Osmotic pressure The amount of pressure needed to prevent the movement of water across
a membrane.
42 Osteoporosis (OS-tee- A disease in which the bones become porous and fragile due to a loss of
oh-pore-OH-sis) minerals; also called adult bone loss.
Osteo = bone
Porosis = porous
43 Parathyroid hormone A hormone from the parathyroid glands that regulates blood calcium by
raising it when levels fall too low; also known as parathormone (PAIR-
ah-THOR-moan).

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44 Peak bone mass The highest attainable bone density for an individual, developed during
the first three decades of life.
45 Phosphorus A major mineral found mostly in the body's bones and teeth.
46 Potassium The principal cation within the body's cells; critical to the maintenance
of fluid balance, nerve impulse transmissions and muscle contractions.
47 Renin (REN-in) An enzyme from the kidneys that hydrolyzes the protein
angiotensinogen to angiotensin I, which results in the kidneys
reabsorbing sodium.
48 Salt A compound composed of a positive ion other than H+ and a negative
ion other than OH-. An example is sodium chloride (Na+ Cl-).
Na = sodium
Cl = chloride
49 Salt sensitivity A characteristic of individuals who respond to a high salt intake with an
increase in blood pressure or to a low salt intake with a decrease in blood
pressure.
50 Sodium The principal cation in the extracellular fluids of the body; critical to the
maintenance of fluid balance, nerve impulse transmissions and muscle
contractions.
51 Soft water Water with a high sodium or potassium content.
52 Solutes (SOLL-yutes) The substances that are dissolved in a solution. The number of molecules
in a given volume of fluid is the solute concentration.
53 Sulfate A salt produced from the oxidation of sulphur.
54 Sulfur A mineral present in the body as part of some proteins.
55 Thirst A conscious desire to drink.
56 Trace minerals Essential mineral nutrients the human body requires in relatively small
amounts (less than 100 milligrams per day); sometimes called
microminerals.
57 Vasoconstrictor (VAS- A substance that constricts or narrows the blood vessels.
oh-kon-STRIK-tor)
58 Water balance The balance between water intake and output (losses).
59 Water intoxication The rare condition in which body water contents are too high in all body
fluid compartments.
Glossary of Types of Water
60 Artesian water Water drawn from a well that taps a confined aquifer in which the water
is under pressure.
61 Carbonated water Water that contains carbon dioxide gas, either naturally occurring or
added, that causes bubbles to form in it; also called bubbling or sparkling
water. The FDA defines seltzer, soda and tonic waters as soft drinks;
they are not regulated as water.
62 Distilled water Water that has been vaporized and recondensed, leaving it free of
dissolved minerals.
63 Filtered water Water treated by filtration, usually through activated carbon filters that
reduce the lead in tap water or by reverse osmosis units that force
pressurized water across a membrane removing lead, arsenic and some
microorganisms from tap water.
64 Mineral water Water from a spring or well that naturally contains at least 250 parts per
million (ppm) of minerals. Minerals give water a distinctive flavor.
Many mineral waters are high in sodium.
65 Natural water Water obtained from a spring or well that is certified to be safe and
sanitary. The mineral content may not be changed, but the water may be
treated in other ways such as with ozone or by filtration.
66 Public water Water from a municipal or county water system that has been treated and
disinfected.

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67 Purified water Water that has been treated by distillation or other physical or chemical
processes that remove dissolved solids. Because purified water contains
no minerals or contaminants, it is useful for medical and research
purposes.
68 Spring water Water originating from an underground spring or well. It may be bubbly
(carbonated), or "flat" or "still," meaning not carbonated. Brand names
such as "Spring Pure" do not necessarily mean that the water comes
from a spring.
69 Well water Water drawn from groundwater by tapping into an aquifer.
Additional Glossary
70 Antacids Medications used to relieve indigestion by neutralizing acid in the
stomach. Calcium-containing preparations (such as Tums) contain
available calcium. Antacids with aluminum or magnesium hydroxides
(such as Rolaids) can accelerate calcium losses.
71 Bone density A measure of bone strength. When minerals fill the bone matrix (making
it dense), they give it strength.
72 Bone meal or Crushed or ground bone preparations intended to supply calcium to the
powdered bone diet. Calcium from bone is not well absorbed and is often contaminated
with toxic minerals such as arsenic, mercury, lead and cadmium.
73 Cortical bone The very dense bone tissue that forms the outer shell surrounding
trabecular bone and comprises the shaft of a long bone.
74 Dolomite A compound of minerals (calcium magnesium carbonate) found in
limestone and marble. Dolomite is powdered and is sold as a calcium-
magnesium supplement. However, it may be contaminated with toxic
minerals, is not well absorbed and interacts adversely with absorption of
other essential minerals.
75 Osteoporosis A disease characterized by porous and fragile bones.
76 Oyster shell A product made from the powdered shells of oysters that is sold as a
calcium supplement, but it is not well absorbed by the digestive system.
77 Trabecular (tra- The lacy inner structure of calcium crystals that supports the bone's
BECK-you-lar) bone structure and provides a calcium storage bank.