Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Potassium (\(\text{K}^+\)) is the primary intracellular cation in the animal body.
It is essential for maintaining cell volume, acid-base balance, and the resting membrane potential of excitable tissues.
Understanding its distribution between intracellular and extracellular compartments is critical for diagnosing electrolyte imbalances.
Detailed Explanation:
Let us analyze both statements:
- Assertion A: Approximately \( 98\% \) of the body's total potassium is located within the intracellular fluid (ICF), while only \( 2\% \) resides in the extracellular fluid (ECF), which includes plasma and serum. Because of this distribution, transcellular shifts of potassium (e.g., during acid-base disturbances) can significantly alter serum potassium concentration without reflecting changes in total body potassium stores. Thus, measuring plasma or serum potassium alone is not a reliable indicator of total body potassium status. Assertion A is true.
- Reason R: Erythrocytes (RBCs) contain high concentrations of intracellular potassium, maintained by the \(\text{Na}^+\)-\(\text{K}^+\) ATPase pump. Measuring potassium levels within red blood cells provides a more accurate reflection of the intracellular electrolyte compartment and total body potassium stores than measuring extracellular serum levels. Thus, Reason R is true and provides the physiological explanation for Assertion A.
Step 2: Final Answer:
Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.