The first world-class African American tennis player was Althea Gibson. In 1950 she broke the color barrier in tennis by becoming the first black athlete to play in the United States national tennis championship. She was the sportâs top female player in the late 1950s, winning five Grand Slam singles events.
Following is a list of some of the more important ions in the cells and fluids of our bodies: 1  Sodium ions are the principal cations found outside cells in the body. They help regulate and control the level of body fluids. 2  Potassium ions are the principal cations found inside cells in the body. Bananas, orange juice, and potatoes are good sources of Potassium ions help regulate cellular functions, including nerve impulses and heartbeats, and the level of body fluids. Chloride ions are the principal anions found outside cells in the body.
The sodium-potassium pump is integral in maintaining the acid-base balance as well as in healthy kidney function. Energy is derived from pumping sodium outside the cell, where it becomes concentrated, wanting to push its way back in. This energy is used to remove acid from the body. The sodium-potassium pump also functions to maintain the electrical charge within the cell. This is particularly important to muscle and nerve cells. During nerve transmission and muscle contraction, potassium exits the cell and sodium enters, resulting in a change in electrical charge that causes a nerve impulse or muscle contraction.