NURS4400 Critical Concepts Deep Dive

These flashcards summarize key concepts related to electrolytes, proteins, transport mechanisms, and cellular structures discussed in the NURS4400 lecture.

Electrolytes

Charged minerals found in blood and body fluids that help regulate essential body functions.

Sodium (Na⁺)

A major electrolyte in the extracellular fluid, essential for fluid balance and nerve impulse transmission.

Potassium (K⁺)

An electrolyte crucial for nerve impulse transmission and muscle contraction, including the heart.

Calcium (Ca²⁺)

An electrolyte necessary for muscle contraction, bone structure, and maintaining acid-base balance.

Magnesium (Mg²⁺)

An electrolyte involved in muscle contraction and biochemical reactions.

Chloride (Cl⁻)

An electrolyte that helps maintain fluid balance and acid-base balance.

Phosphate (PO₄³⁻)

An electrolyte essential for building strong bones and teeth.

Bicarbonate (HCO₃⁻)

An electrolyte that helps regulate and stabilize the body's pH level.

Protein

Large, complex molecules made of amino acids, essential for numerous body functions.

Hemoglobin

A protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout the body.

Insulin

A hormone made of protein that regulates blood glucose levels.

Active Transport

Movement of substances across a cell membrane from low concentration to high concentration using energy (ATP).

Passive Transport

Movement of substances across a cell membrane from high concentration to low concentration without energy.

Sodium-Potassium Pump

A membrane protein that uses ATP to maintain sodium and potassium gradients across cell membranes.

Mitochondria

Organelles that produce energy (ATP) through cellular respiration.

ATP (adenosine triphosphate)

The energy currency of the cell, produced in the mitochondria.

Cell Membrane

The barrier that separates the interior of the cell from the exterior environment.