Common Cations and Anions in the body
Anion Gap calculation
(Na+K)-(Cl+CO2)
Anion Gap reference range
10-20 mmol/L (almost always posititve)
Sodium Normal range
135-145 mmol/L
Potassium normal range
3.4-5.0 mmol/L
Magnesium
4th most abundant cation in the body and 2nd most Intracellular Cation
Sodium
90% of extracellular Cations
Sodium critical values
<125 or >160 mmol/L
Bicarbonate
Anion In Extracellular fluid/ major component of total carbon dioxide
Acid/ base balance
Bicarbonate, Potassium, and Chloride
Blood coagulators
Calcium and Magnesium
Chloride
Chief extracellular Anion/ involved in maintaining osmolality and blood volume
Co-factors for enzymes
Magnesium, Zinc, Calcium, & Chloride
Potassium
Major intracellular Cation
Myocardial rhythm controllers
Potassium, Magnesium, & calcium
Neuromuscular excitablilty
Potassium, Magnesium, and Calcium
Volume and osmotic regulators
Sodium, Potassium and Chloride
Phosphate
anion found everywhere in living cells
Calcium
approx. 99% of calcium is in the bone and the other 1% is found in the blood and other extracellular fluids (cation)
Approx. 15% of calcium is...
bound to anions
Approx 45% of calcium is...
free or ionized calcium (not bound to proteins/ biologically active)
Lactate
is not specifically regulated
Electrolytes are highly regulated to...
maintain within the narrow ranges that are compatible with life
Decreased Anion Gap
may be seen in patients with decreased albumin or increased calcium levels (rare)
Increases Anion Gap
may be seen in patients with uremia/ renal failure
Approx 40% of calcium is...
protein bound
