Choose all that are functions of chloride ions.
Answer (2)
Chloride ions (Cl-) are crucial for maintaining electrolyte balance, regulating pH levels, facilitating nervous system function, and assisting in acid-base balance. They support various biological processes essential for health and proper body functioning.
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Chloride ions (Cl-) have several important functions in the body. Here are the correct options related to their roles:
They contribute to formation of stomach acid.
Chloride ions are crucial for the production of hydrochloric acid (HCl) in the stomach. The stomach lining cells secrete HCl, a key component of gastric juice, aiding in digestion and providing an acidic environment to activate enzymes and destroy pathogens.
They participate in the chloride shift that accompanies carbon dioxide loading and unloading.
This process is part of maintaining the acid-base balance in the blood and involves the exchange of chloride ions for bicarbonate (HCO₃⁻) ions across red blood cell membranes. This exchange is known as the chloride shift, or Hamburger phenomenon, which is essential during the transportation of carbon dioxide from tissues to the lungs and vice versa.
They play a major role in the regulation of body pH.
Chloride ions help maintain the body's acid-base balance by influencing the bicarbonate buffer system, a primary buffer system in the blood. By participating in the chloride shift, chloride ions indirectly influence pH regulation through their effect on bicarbonate levels.
They are important in osmotic balance.
Chloride ions contribute to the osmotic pressure of body fluids, particularly in maintaining the balance of fluids outside and inside cells. This is crucial for proper cellular function, electrolyte balance, and overall fluid homeostasis.
Chloride ions do not have a direct role in blood clotting. Blood clotting primarily involves components like platelets and clotting factors, rather than chloride ions.
