Chloride is a major electrical anion present in all body fluids and constitutes nearly 66 % in plasma. The dietary source of chloride is table salt used in cooking. It is mainly excreted in urine and through skin during sweating.
The important functions of chloride ions are
1. For maintaining normal electrolyte balance in the fluids.
2. To maintain normal osmosis balance along with sodium ion
3. To maintain charge balance between the body fluids
High concentration of chloride in the body is called as Hyperchloremia and low concentration of chloride in the body is called Hypochloremia.
A normal serum chloride concentration is 98-108 mmol/L.
The total chloride concentration in body is 50 m Eq/kg body weight
Daily body requirement is 5 to 10 gm as sodium chloride.