Potassium Balance — Flashcards

Flashcard 1: Hypoparathyroidism is characterized by decreased serum _____ and increased serum phosphate (hyperphosphatemia)

Answer: calcium (hypocalcemia)

Flashcard 2: The major buffer of the **extracellular fluid** is _____, whereas phosphate is a major buffer of the **intracellular fluid** (and urine).

Answer: bicarbonate

Extra: The bicarbonate buffer system is the primary buffer of the ECF. The phosphate buffer system is a major buffer in the ICF and urine (renal tubules), but plays a minor role in the ECF due to its low concentration. Proteins (like hemoglobin and plasma albumin) also serve as significant buffers in both compartments.

Flashcard 3: _____ is the most abundant extracellular anion.

Answer: Chloride

Flashcard 4: _____ is a test that can be used to measure the status of the patient with DKA.

Answer: Serum anion gap

Flashcard 5: _____ in serum Mg2+ concentration cause decreased PTH secretion

Answer: Severe decreases

Flashcard 6: If the "lost" HCO3- in metabolic acidosis is replaced by _____, the anion gap is increased

Answer: unmeasured ions

Flashcard 7: The major anions of _____ fluid are proteins and organic phosphates

Answer: intracellular