What is the main extracellular fluid anion?

Study for the Ciulla Clinical Chemistry Test. Enhance your knowledge with flashcards and multiple-choice questions. Prepare for the exam with comprehensive study materials and detailed explanations for each question.

Multiple Choice

What is the main extracellular fluid anion?

Explanation:
In the extracellular fluid, the dominant negatively charged ion is chloride because it mostly pairs with the abundant sodium cations to maintain electrical neutrality and osmotic balance. Chloride levels are higher than those of bicarbonate in the extracellular space, making it the primary anion outside cells. Bicarbonate is an important buffer in the blood, but its concentration is lower than chloride. Potassium and sodium are cations, not anions, with sodium being the main extracellular cation and potassium mainly inside cells.

In the extracellular fluid, the dominant negatively charged ion is chloride because it mostly pairs with the abundant sodium cations to maintain electrical neutrality and osmotic balance. Chloride levels are higher than those of bicarbonate in the extracellular space, making it the primary anion outside cells. Bicarbonate is an important buffer in the blood, but its concentration is lower than chloride. Potassium and sodium are cations, not anions, with sodium being the main extracellular cation and potassium mainly inside cells.

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