Differences in ionic composition between plasma and interstitial fluid?

Question

hello there. i am confused...please help

this is what i read in my book

htere are minor differences in ionic composition between the plasma and interstitial fluid due to difference in protien concentration. as the plasma contians higher protein content (orgain anions), the total concentraion of cations is higher in the plasma than in the interstital fluid.

what does it mean?

Answer 1

All cells have to maintain a certain electrochemical gradient in order to operate properly. Mitochondria produce energy by pumping protons from one side of a membrane to another, and many other membrane operations work in a similar manner. This means that if the cation concentration is higher in one place than another, the cell will have to work harder to maintain its normal chemistry in one place than another!