Chloride – Electrolyte Balance (Nursing)

00:01 So now let's look at Anions.

00:03 So thus far we've mainly looked at the regulation of cations, like sodium, potassium, and calcium.

00:12 But anions are also important.

00:15 Chloride is our major anion and it usually accompanies sodium in our extracellular fluid.

00:23 It helps us to maintain the osmotic pressure in our blood.

00:27 And 99% of our chloride ion is going to be reabsorbed under normal pH conditions.

00:36 Chloride ion normally passively follows the sodium in the proximal convoluted tubule, and it's also coupled with active transport of sodium and the other parts of the nephron like the ascending limb of the nephron loop.

00:54 When acidosis in the body occurs, fewer chloride ions are going to be reabsored, in lieu of the reabsorption of bicarbonate.

01:05 Other anions have transport maximums, and excesses are excreted in the urine.

01:12 So for example, anions like sulfates and nitrates would be secreted in the urine.