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Multiple Choice
Which of the following is NOT an essential role of salts in the human body?
A
Maintaining osmotic balance
B
Contributing to muscle contraction
C
Participating in nerve impulse transmission
D
Providing a source of metabolic energy
Verified step by step guidance
1
Step 1: Begin by understanding the role of salts in the human body. Salts, such as sodium chloride (NaCl), dissociate into ions (e.g., Na⁺ and Cl⁻) in water, which are crucial for various physiological processes.
Step 2: Review the listed roles of salts: maintaining osmotic balance, contributing to muscle contraction, and participating in nerve impulse transmission. These are all essential functions of salts in the body.
Step 3: Recall that osmotic balance is maintained by salts through the regulation of water movement across cell membranes, ensuring proper hydration and cell function.
Step 4: Understand that muscle contraction relies on ions like calcium (Ca²⁺) and sodium (Na⁺), which are derived from salts, to facilitate the interaction between actin and myosin filaments in muscle cells.
Step 5: Recognize that nerve impulse transmission depends on the movement of ions (e.g., Na⁺, K⁺) across neuronal membranes, creating electrical signals. However, salts do not provide metabolic energy, which is primarily derived from macromolecules like carbohydrates, fats, and proteins.