Final answer:
Calcium is an essential mineral predominantly found in the bones, accounting for 99% of the body's calcium. It plays critical roles in bone and tooth health, muscle function, heart regulation, and nerve signaling. The body maintains calcium homeostasis to prevent disparities in blood calcium levels.
Step-by-step explanation:
99% of the calcium present in the body is located in the bones. Calcium is essential for various physiological processes including bone mineralization, tooth health, muscle contraction, and nerve impulse conduction. In addition to being stored in bones, calcium helps in the proper functioning of the heart and is involved in blood coagulation. Only a small fraction of calcium is present in the extracellular fluid, which includes blood plasma, interstitial fluid, and lymph. Calcium homeostasis is crucial for maintaining normal physiological function, with normal blood calcium levels around 10 mg/dL, and the body uses complex mechanisms to regulate these levels to avoid hypo- or hypercalcemia.