Blood calcium is often reported in mmol/L…
Contributed by StemPy LabTry it on paper first. A hint, the key idea and the worked solution are here when you need them.
Blood calcium is often reported in mmol/L. One mmol of calcium is 40 mg, and one litre is 10 dL.
- A level of 8 mg/dL. What is it in mmol/L?
- A level of 9 mg/dL. What is it in mmol/L?
- A level of 10 mg/dL. What is it in mmol/L?
Need a reminder? The key ideaShow
The four parathyroid glands make PTH, which raises the calcium of the blood by acting on the bones, the renal tubules and the gut. A low calcium causes tetany. The Leydig cells of the testis make androgens. The growing follicles of the ovary make estrogen, and the corpus luteum makes mainly progesterone. One mmol of calcium is 40 mg.
The worked solution
Have you tried it?
Work it out on paper first. It is fine to get stuck or make a mistake: that is how we learn. When you are ready, go through the solution one step at a time, and check each step against your own.
Given. mg of calcium is mmol. L dL.
Plan. Mg in one litre, then mmol in one litre.
Step 1. mg/dL. In one litre: mg. mmol/L.
Step 2. mg/dL. mmol/L.
Step 3. mg/dL. mmol/L.
Answer: mmol/L; mmol/L; mmol/L.
Check. The limits of the normal range, and mg/dL, are about and mmol/L.
Watch out. A dL is a tenth of a litre, so a number per dL becomes ten times larger per litre.
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