Final answer:
The human body is electrically neutral due to a balance of anions and cations. Cells maintain this neutrality using sodium-potassium pumps, despite slight charge differences at the cell membrane involved in electrical signaling. Ions contribute to critical functions such as neurotransmission, enzyme structure stability, hormone release, and osmotic balance.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement is true: the human body is generally electrically neutral due to the balanced distribution of anions (negatively charged ions) and cations (positively charged ions) within body fluids. Ions like sodium (Na+) and chloride (Cl−) are mainly found in the extracellular fluid (ECF), while potassium (K+) ions are more prevalent in the intracellular fluid (ICF). Even though ions can move through cellular membranes via pores, the balance is maintained by sodium-potassium pumps. These pumps, powered by ATP, actively transport sodium out of the cell and potassium into the cell, ensuring that the ECF and ICF retain their respective ionic concentrations and preserve an overall neutral charge.
Despite this overall neutrality, a slight charge difference exists at the cell membrane level, which is crucial for the generation of electrical signals like action potentials in neurons and muscle cells. The body's ions also contribute to various functions including the transmission of electrical impulses, stabilization of protein structures, hormone release, and maintenance of osmotic balance. This intricate balance of ions is essential for normal physiological function.