Which electrolyte is the principal cation in the intracellular fluid (icf) compartment?
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Electrolytes are compounds that separate into ions in water. Electrolytes can be separated into 2 classes: The following table summarizes the major intracellular and extracellular electrolytes by giving their milliequivalents (mEq)/L. Milliequivalents are a measure of charge. Thus, a higher value means that the cation or anion is
accounting for more charge. The following figure graphically shows the major intracellular and extracellular cations (green) and anions (red). Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\): Major intracellular and extracellular cations (green) and anions (red)2 Electrolytes and proteins are important in fluid balance. Your body is 60% water by weight. Two-thirds of this water is intracellular, or within cells. One-third of the water is extracellular, or outside of cells. One-fourth of the extracellular fluid is plasma, while the other 3/4 is interstitial (between cells) fluid. Thus, when considering total body water, around 66% is intracellular fluid, 25% is interstitial fluid, and 8% is plasma3,4. Fluid distribution between the different compartments are shown below. Figure \(\PageIndex{2}\): Distribution of fluid in the body3,4. References
Topic Resources Body fluid volume and electrolyte concentration are normally maintained within very narrow limits despite wide variations in dietary intake, metabolic activity, and environmental stresses. Homeostasis of body fluids is preserved primarily by the kidneys. Water and sodium balance are closely interdependent.
Total body water (TBW) is about 60% of body weight in men (ranging from about 50% in obese people to 70% in lean people) and about 50% in women. Almost two thirds of TBW is in the intracellular compartment (intracellular fluid, or ICF); the other one third is extracellular (extracellular fluid, or ECF). Normally, about 25% of the ECF is in the intravascular compartment; the other 75% is interstitial fluid (see figure
Fluid compartments in an average 70-kg man
Fluid compartments in an average 70-kg man Fluid compartments in an average 70-kg manTotal body water = 70 kg × 0.60 = 42 L (280 mOsm/kg [280 mmol/kg]). The major intracellular cation is potassium. The major extracellular cation is sodium. Concentrations of intracellular and extracellular cations are as follows:
The concentration of combined solutes in water is osmolarity (amount of solute per L of solution), which, in body fluids, is similar to osmolality (amount of solute per kg of solution). Plasma osmolality can be measured in the laboratory or estimated according to the formula Estimated plasma osmolality in conventional units (mOsm/kg ) = where serum sodium (Na) is expressed in mEq/L, and glucose and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) are expressed in mg/dL. Estimated plasma osmolality in SI units is 2[serum Na] + glucose + urea where all values are expressed in mmol/L. Osmolality of body fluids is normally between 275 and 290 mOsm/kg (275 and 290 mmol/kg). Sodium is the major determinant of plasma osmolality. Apparent changes in calculated osmolality may result from errors in the measurement of sodium, which can occur in patients with hyperlipidemia or extreme hyperproteinemia because the lipid or protein occupies space in the volume of serum taken for analysis; the concentration of sodium in serum itself is not affected. Newer methods of measuring serum electrolytes with direct ion-selective electrodes circumvent this problem. An osmolar gap is present when measured osmolality exceeds estimated osmolality by ≥ 10 mOsm/kg ( ≥ 10 mmol/kg). It is caused by unmeasured osmotically active substances present in the plasma. The most common are alcohols (ethanol, methanol, isopropanol, ethylene glycol), mannitol, and glycine. Water crosses cell membranes freely from areas of low solute concentration to areas of high solute concentration. Thus, osmolality tends to equalize across the various body fluid compartments, resulting primarily from movement of water, not solutes. Solutes such as urea that freely diffuse across cell membranes have little or no effect on water shifts (little or no osmotic activity), whereas solutes that are restricted primarily to one fluid compartment, such as sodium and potassium, have the greatest osmotic activity. Tonicity, or effective osmolality, reflects osmotic activity and determines the force drawing water across fluid compartments (the osmotic force). Osmotic force can be opposed by other forces. For example, plasma proteins have a small osmotic effect that tends to draw water into the plasma; this osmotic effect is normally counteracted by vascular hydrostatic forces that drive water out of the plasma. The average daily fluid intake is about 2.5 L. The amount needed to replace losses from the urine and other sources is about 1 to 1.5 L/day in healthy adults. However, on a short-term basis, an average young adult with normal kidney function may ingest as little as 200 mL of water each day to excrete the nitrogenous and other wastes generated by cellular metabolism. More is needed in people with any loss of renal concentrating capacity. Renal concentrating capacity is lost in
Other obligatory water losses are mostly insensible losses from the lungs and skin, averaging about 0.4 to 0.5 mL/kg/hour or about 650 to 850 mL/day in a 70-kg adult. With fever, another 50 to 75 mL/day may be lost for each degree Celsius of temperature elevation above normal. Gastrointestinal losses are usually negligible, except when marked vomiting, diarrhea, or both occur. Sweat losses can be significant during environmental heat exposure or excessive exercise. Water intake is regulated by thirst. Thirst is triggered by receptors in the anterolateral hypothalamus that respond to increased plasma osmolality (as little as 2%) or decreased body fluid volume. Rarely, hypothalamic dysfunction decreases the capacity for thirst. Water excretion by the kidneys is regulated primarily by vasopressin (antidiuretic hormone [ADH]). Vasopressin is released by the posterior pituitary and results in increased water reabsorption in the distal nephron. Vasopressin release is stimulated by any of the following:
Vasopressin release may be impaired by certain substances (eg, ethanol, phenytoin), by tumors or infiltrative disorders affecting the posterior pituitary, and by trauma to the brain. In many cases a specific cause cannot be identified. Water intake decreases plasma osmolality. Low plasma osmolality inhibits vasopressin secretion, allowing the kidneys to produce dilute urine. The diluting capacity of healthy kidneys in young adults is such that maximum daily fluid intake can be as much as 25 L; greater amounts quickly lower plasma osmolality. Click here for Patient Education Copyright © 2022 Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA and its affiliates. All rights reserved. What are the principal ions in the ICF?Principle ions in ICF: Potassium, magnesium, phosphate and negatively charged proteins.
What electrolytes are found in intracellular fluid?For intracellular fluid, the most important electrolyte is potassium (K+ ), followed by magnesium and phosphate. Only small amounts of sodium, chloride, and bicarbonate are found in the intracellular fluid.
Is potassium found in ICF?Potassium is the most abundant cation in the intracellular fluid and it plays a vital role in the maintenance of normal cell functions. Thus, potassium homeostasis across the cell membrane, is very critical because a tilt in this balance can result in different diseases that could be life threatening.
What is the principal anion of the ICF quizlet?Anions include chloride, bicarbonate, and phosphate; the principal anion in ICF is phosphate.
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