87. CHEMICAL ELEMENTS, FUNCTIONS: ANIMALS 



The functions listed In the table require the specific elements noted. In addition, carbon, hy- 

 drogen, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus and sulfur are required for the functions of synthesis of 

 structural proteins, carbohydrates, fats and other organic compounds, and for formation of end 

 products of metabolism. 



Element 



Ingestion and 

 Absorption 



Distribution 



Function 



Excretion 



EI 



TbT 



:ici 



1 



2 



3 



k 

 5 

 6 



7 



8 



9 

 10 

 11 

 l£ 

 13 

 Ik 



15 

 l6 



n 



19 



20 

 21 

 >£ 



23 



2k 



25 

 26 

 27 

 28 

 29 

 50 

 51 

 52 

 53 

 51* 

 55 

 56 

 51 

 58 

 59 

 iO 

 il 



Traces in many foods. 

 Probably completely 

 absorbed from gastro- 

 intestinal tract. 



Bromine 



Same as chloride in mam- 

 mals . In Tyrian Purple 

 (=bromlnated Indigo) de- 

 rived from viscera of 

 marine gastropod (Purpura 

 aperta); in dibromo tyro- 

 sine in protein gorgonin 

 from coral (Primnoa lepa- 

 difera) 



Not known. 



Mainly in 

 urine. 



Calcium 



Almost entirely as 

 salts of Inorganic or 

 organic acids. Par- 

 tial absorption from 

 gastrointestinal 

 tract. Absorption 

 aided by vitamin D 

 and low pH. 



Insoluble calcium phos- 

 phate complex in bones, 

 teeth in vertebrates. In 

 exoskeleton of numerous 

 invertebrates as calcium 

 carbonate. Minute con- 

 centrations as soluble 

 salts in body fluids, all 

 species. As CEilclum car- 

 bonate in shell of certain 

 eggs 



Component of supporting 

 structure in higher 

 forms, many lower forms. 

 Vital electrolyte of 

 cell and extracellular 

 fluid. Protective shell 

 of eggs. 



In urine, 

 feces In 

 varying 

 portions. 



As for sodium. 



Chlorine 



Distribution similEir to 

 that of sodium, but in 

 general, milliequivalent 

 concentrations are lower. 

 Chief anion of gastric 

 Juice. Also present in 

 all other gastrointesti- 

 nal secretions and all 

 extracellular fluids. 



Although principal anion 

 of extracellular fluid, 

 function Is unknown. 

 Variation in CI concentra 

 tlon appears to be better 

 tolerated than in Na and 

 most other electrolytes. 



Chiefly in 

 urine. 

 Variable 

 amount In 

 sweat . 



Trace constituent of 

 many foods. Absorbed 

 from gastrointestinal 

 tract. 



Trace distribution in 

 many tissues, particu- 

 larly glEuids and viscer- 

 al organs, e. g., liver. 



Cobalt 



Component of vitamin B12 

 (Cobalamin), required by 

 some species from lowest 

 to highest forms . Cobalt 

 deficiency occurs in ru- 

 minants as "Pine" disease, 

 salt sickness, bush sick- 

 ness, "coast" disease. 

 Cobalt enhances activity 

 of certain peptidases. 



In urine 

 and feces. 



t5 

 »6 

 il 

 »8 

 ♦9 

 50 

 51 

 52 

 53 

 5^ 

 55 

 56 

 57 



Minute amounts In 

 food as copper pro- 

 tein complexes . Poor- 

 ly absorbed from in- 

 testine. 



Copper 



Higher concentrations in 

 invertebrates than In 

 vertebrates. Highest con- 

 centrations in hepatopan- 

 creas and gonads of 

 Mollusca; lowest concen- 

 tration in muscle. High 

 concentration in gut of 

 insects. Present In 

 turacln (red pigment of 

 feathers of turaco bird) . 

 Injected Cu accumulates 

 in liver, kidney. Liver 

 is principal site of 

 storage. 



Erythropoiesis. Myelini 

 zatlon of central nervous 

 system. Maintenance of 

 mammalian pigmentation. 

 Trace quantities es- 

 sential for hemoglobin 

 and possibly Iron- 

 porphyrin-protein enzyme 

 synthesis. Constituent of 

 several enzymes present 

 in animal tissues (poly 

 phenol oxidase, tyro- 

 sinase, laccase, catechol 

 oxidase, and ascorbic 

 acid oxidase). Component 

 of hemocyanln, respira- 

 tory pigment of numerous 

 marine animals; component 

 (cont'd on next page) 



Most of 

 orally ad- 

 ministered 

 copper ap- 

 pears in 

 feces due 

 to poor 

 absorption. 

 Parenter- 

 ally ad- 

 ministered 

 Cu is 



slowly ex- 

 creted, 

 mainly in 

 feces, 

 less In 

 urine. 



150 



