Question

Ca during pregnancy --> total serum Ca ________ but no ________ of bone density.

Option 1: Decreases, Change
Option 2: Increases, Change
Option 3: Decreases, Effect
Option 4: Increases, Effect

Answer 1

During pregnancy, total serum calcium decreases but there is no change in bone density due to compensatory mechanisms that maintain bone health(option 1).

Step-by-step explanation:

The question you're asking pertains to changes in serum calcium levels and bone density during pregnancy. During pregnancy, the total serum calcium is observed to decrease due to several physiological changes including hemodilution and an increase in renal clearance. However, this decrease does not lead to a loss of bone density, as the body has mechanisms like increased intestinal absorption of calcium and possibly increased osteoblastic activity to maintain bone health.

Calcitonin, which is secreted in response to high levels of ionized calcium, facilitates the deposition of calcium in the bones. Moreover, although total serum calcium decreases because half of blood calcium is bound to plasma proteins, changes such as decreasing calcium absorption in the intestines and increasing calcium loss in the urine help compensate, thereby preventing an effect on bone density. Thus, the correct answer to the question is Option 1: Decreases, Change.