Florida State Paramedic Practice Exam

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What is the major extracellular cation?

Chloride
Potassium
Calcium
Sodium

The correct answer is: Sodium

Sodium is recognized as the major extracellular cation due to its critical role in maintaining osmotic balance and fluid distribution in the body. It plays an essential part in regulating blood pressure and volume, as well as in the transmission of electrical impulses across nerve and muscle cells. In the extracellular fluid, sodium ions help create the necessary conditions for the function of various cellular processes. This cation is significant for maintaining the resting membrane potential of cells, which is important for the proper functioning of the nervous system and muscle contractions. The concentration gradient of sodium across cell membranes is vital for processes such as action potentials in neurons and the overall physiological homeostasis of the body. Understanding the role of sodium in various bodily functions underscores why it is considered the primary extracellular cation, distinguishing it from other cations present extracellularly in lesser amounts.