What is the biological significance of sodium ions?

Sodium ions are significant for various different biological processes. These ions are essential for regulation of blood pressure and of electrolyte and fluid balance. The body continuously monitors blood volume and sodium concentration. If either increases at high levels, the heart, kidneys, and blood vessels detect this change. They then function to induce the kidneys to increase sodium excretion and subsequently bring blood volume down to normal levels. Sodium is the most abundant electrolyte in the body, and also helps cells absorb nutrients. Too much sodium in the blood is known as hypernatremia and may result in confusion or loss of muscle control. Sodium ions are also necessary for producing action potentials in both cardiac and nervous tissue. The flooding of sodium ions assists in the rising phase of the action potential of neurons; more sodium channels are opened as the action potential moves throughout the neuron’s axon.