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Sodium-Potassium Balance

Meaning

Sodium-Potassium Balance refers to the precise physiological equilibrium of these two essential monovalent cations, which is critically maintained across the cellular membrane and within the extracellular fluid compartment. Sodium is the principal cation of the extracellular space, regulating fluid volume and osmotic pressure, while potassium is the major intracellular cation, essential for nerve impulse conduction, muscle contraction, and cardiac electrophysiology. This delicate balance is tightly regulated by renal mechanisms and the steroid hormone aldosterone, ensuring cellular integrity and systemic fluid homeostasis.