Final answer:
Alterations in calcium, phosphate, and magnesium involve complex interactions important for bone health, nerve function, and other physiological processes, regulated by hormonal balance and affected by various medical conditions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The alterations in calcium, phosphate, and magnesium are closely related to various physiological processes in the body. About 70% of the body's total magnesium content is combined with calcium and phosphate in the complex salts of bone, with the remainder in soft tissues and body fluids, functioning as the principal cation of the soft tissue. The regulation of calcium and phosphate involves a delicate balance maintained by the actions of parathyroid hormone (PTH), dihydroxyvitamin D (calcitriol), and calcitonin which are released or synthesized in response to blood levels of calcium.
Plasma phosphate levels are inversely related to calcium levels in the blood, meaning that an increase in serum phosphate typically leads to a decrease in serum calcium concentration. Conditions like hyperparathyroidism and renal tubular acidosis can lead to the formation of calcium phosphate stones, while hyperphosphatemia, often due to reduced phosphate excretion, is associated with hypocalcemia. These minerals have essential roles in nerve excitability, endocrine secretion, membrane permeability, buffering body fluids, and controlling the movement of fluids between compartments.
A reciprocal relationship exists between calcium and phosphate ions in the plasma, affecting conditions such as bone mineral density and the formation of kidney stones. Phosphate is also a crucial component of nucleic acids, which highlights its importance in various biochemical pathways.