The Release of Atrial Naturetic Peptides from the Heart Will

Question

The release of atrial naturetic peptides from the heart will cause the body to
A) conserve sodium ions.
B) decrease ECF.
C) excrete potassium ions.
D) conserve sodium ions and decrease ECF.
E) excrete sodium ions and decrease ECF.

Accepted Answer

Atrial naturetic peptides (ANP) are released from the atria of the heart in response to increased blood volume and pressure. The release of ANP causes an increase in urine production and a decrease in sodium reabsorption in the kidneys, resulting in the excretion of sodium ions from the body. This ultimately leads to a decrease in extracellular fluid (ECF) volume. Therefore, the correct choice is E, excrete sodium ions and decrease ECF. The other choices are incorrect as they do not reflect the effects of ANP release.