Central Role of Sodium – Electrolyte Balance (Nursing)

00:01 So, sodium is our most abundant cation in our extracellular fluid.

00:08 And our sodium salts in our extracellular fluid are going to pretty much make up 280 mOsm of the total 300 mOsm of extracellular fluid of solute.

00:21 This is the only cation that is exerting the significant osmotic pressure that we see when it comes to the movement of fluids in and out of compartments.

00:32 It is going to control our extracellular volume and also our water distribution because remember, water follow salt.

00:42 Changes in the sodium levels are going to affect our plasma volume, our blood pressure, and as well as the volumes of our extracellular fluid and our interstitial fluids.

00:55 So let's take a closer look at the role of sodium.

00:59 Sodium that leaks into cells is going to be pumped out against this electrical chemical gradient.

01:07 Sodium can move back and forth between the extracellular fluid and our body secretions such as our digestive secretions.

01:16 Also, renal acid-base control mechanisms are going to be coupled to sodium ion transport in the kidneys.