Given what you know about muscle contraction and neurophysiology, why are we willing to sacrifice bone density to maintain blood calcium?
Answer (3)
Without sufficient calcium in the blood, muscles cannot contract. Calcium needs to bind to troponin molecules in the muscles to activate action potentials. It is better to lose some structural strength in the bone than to have muscles that don't contract.
The body maintains blood calcium levels over bone density because calcium is crucial for neurophysiology and muscle contraction. Osteoclasts in the bones break down bone tissue to provide calcium when blood levels are low, which can decrease bone density. ;
The body prioritizes maintaining blood calcium levels over bone density because calcium is essential for muscle contraction and nerve signaling. When blood calcium levels drop, the body releases calcium from the bones through processes stimulated by hormones like parathyroid hormone. While this ensures vital functions continue, it can lead to long-term decreases in bone density if dietary calcium intake is insufficient.
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