Biological importance of sodium and potassium
Sodium ions are necessary in small amounts for some types of plants, but sodium as a nutrient is more generally needed in larger amounts by animals, due to their use of it for generation of nerve impulses and for maintenance of electrolyte balance and fluid balance. In animals, sodium ions are necessary for the aforementioned functions and for heart activity and certain metabolic functions. The health effects of salt reflect what happens when the body has too much or too little sodium. Potassium and sodium ions act as power generators inside the cells of your body. Neurons are cells located throughout your nervous system. They communicate information to perform important tasks such as regulating your body temperature or flexing muscles. For instance, if you want to move your fingers, your brain transmits a message to the muscles in your hand. Neurons transmit that message. Neurons use ions to communicate. Ions are electrically charged chemicals. Potassium and sodium are two of the most important ions in your nervous system.
Resting Potential
The resting potential of a cell is the amount of energy available when a cell is at rest. Your body expends a great deal of energy operating the sodium-potassium pump. The resulting resting potential is what allows for rapid responses to requests from your brain. In "Biological Psychology," Kalat compares resting potential to a bow and arrow that is poised and ready to fire. An archer pulls on the bow and waits for a target just as the sodium-potassium pump is primed and ready for action.
Action Potential
When a simulated neuron makes a request, sodium ions shoot like arrows into your cells, creating an explosion of energy. Sodium ions move first because of the uneven concentration between sodium and potassium ions. It takes a little longer for potassium ions to move outside of your cells. When they do, the in and out flow of potassium and sodium ions creates polarization and reverse polarization. This is the action potential. Eventually, the ions settle down and return to resting potential.
Biological importance of Magnesium
1. Activity of enzymes:
Mg plays a crucial role in the biochemical reactions occurring in our body. The main role of this ion in the body is to regulate the functions of enzymes which in turn are responsible for various chemical reactions. Magnesium as an enzyme co-factor plays an important role in the breakage of glucose and fat molecules, in the production of enzymes, proteins and regulation of cholesterol.
2. Acts as fuel source:
It plays an important role in the production of energy within the cells.Without the sufficient supply of this ion nutrients cannot be converted into usable energy or ATP (adenosine tri-phosphate) which is the fundamental unit of energy in human body. Production of ATP is significant to perform various actions such as cell reproduction, protein synthesis etc.