Importance of calcium ions
Calcium is an extremely important factor for health and longevity. It serves both a structural and physiological role in the entire organism. Bones are constantly breaking down and rebuilding, and calcium is directly involved in this process. Calcium ions (Ca2+) are essential mediators of a wide variety of cellular activities, including the passing of information along neurons and between adjacent neurons. Hormonal regulation is also mediated by the proper functions of calcium and calcium ions in the body.
Considering all of the roles that it plays, calcium is of the upmost physiological importance and is the most abundant mineral in the human body. Calcium is a chemical element depicted by the symbol Ca and has an atomic number of 20 (Saunders). This means that calcium has 20 electrons as well as 20 protons. A Ca2+ ion has both of the atom's valence electrons stripped from it, so it has an overall positive charge of two. Calcium is essential structurally by helping to build and maintain strong bones. This vital mineral makes up 99% of the bones and teeth (Saunders). Calcium in bones can be used as a reserve that can later be released into the blood when it is needed the most. The important role that calcium plays in so many processes dictates that its concentration, both extracellularly and intercellularly, be maintained within a very narrow range (Saunders). Even relatively small changes in blood calcium levels can have dramatic effects, including muscle and brain dysfunction, heart failure and ultimately death. Calcium levels in the blood are regulated by two hormones: Calcitonin and parathyroid hormone (PTH), as well as Vitamin D. These hormones act on bone cells and other tissues to help raise or lower plasma concentrations. When calcium levels rise, the hormone calcitonin functions to reduce blood calcium, which is sensed by the thyroid gland (Hendrickson). Calcitonin acts to lower the concentration of calcium in the blood by taking
Considering all of the roles that it plays, calcium is of the upmost physiological importance and is the most abundant mineral in the human body. Calcium is a chemical element depicted by the symbol Ca and has an atomic number of 20 (Saunders). This means that calcium has 20 electrons as well as 20 protons. A Ca2+ ion has both of the atom's valence electrons stripped from it, so it has an overall positive charge of two. Calcium is essential structurally by helping to build and maintain strong bones. This vital mineral makes up 99% of the bones and teeth (Saunders). Calcium in bones can be used as a reserve that can later be released into the blood when it is needed the most. The important role that calcium plays in so many processes dictates that its concentration, both extracellularly and intercellularly, be maintained within a very narrow range (Saunders). Even relatively small changes in blood calcium levels can have dramatic effects, including muscle and brain dysfunction, heart failure and ultimately death. Calcium levels in the blood are regulated by two hormones: Calcitonin and parathyroid hormone (PTH), as well as Vitamin D. These hormones act on bone cells and other tissues to help raise or lower plasma concentrations. When calcium levels rise, the hormone calcitonin functions to reduce blood calcium, which is sensed by the thyroid gland (Hendrickson). Calcitonin acts to lower the concentration of calcium in the blood by taking