Caring for Clients with Fluid, Electrolyte, and Acid-Base Imbalances Flashcards
acidosis
excessive accumulation of acids or an excessive loss of bicarbonate in body fluids; can occur as a result of either metabolic or respiratory alterations
acids
substances that release hydrogen
active transport
use of energy to move chemicals from an area of low concentration to an area of higher concentration
alkalosis
excessive accumulation of base or a loss of acid in body fluids; can occur as a result of either metabolic or respiratory alterations
anion gap
difference between sodium and potassium cation concentrations and the sum of chloride and bicarbonate anions in the extracellular fluid
anions
negative ions
baroreceptors
stretch receptors in the aortic arch and carotid sinus that signal the brain to release ADH when blood volume decreases, systolic blood pressure falls, or the right atrium is underfilled, and to suppress ADH when blood volume increases, systolic blood pressure rises, or the right atrium is overfilled
bases
chemical substances that bind with hydrogen
bicarbonate-carbonic acid buffer system
regulates plasma pH by adding hydrogen ions to increase acidity and removing them to promote alkalinity.
cation
positive-charged electrolyte
Chvostek sign
assessment finding in which a client’s mouth twitches and jaw tightens following the tapping of the facial nerve
circulatory overload
fluid volume that exceeds what is normal for the intravascular space and has the potential to compromise cardiopulmonary function if it remains unresolved
compensation
acceleration of regulatory processes in the lungs and kidneys when an imbalance in acids or bases occurs
dehydration
significant reduction of body fluid in both extracellular and intracellular compartments
dependent edema
accumulation of fluid in the body areas most affected by gravity (the feet, ankles, sacrum, or buttocks)
electrolytes
substances that carry an electrical charge when dissolved in fluid
extracellular fluid
water in the body located outside cells
facilitated diffusion
process in which dissolved substances require the assistance of carrier molecule to pass through a semipermeable membrane
filtration
process that promotes the movement of fluid and some dissolved substances through a semipermeable membrane using pressure differences
generalized edema
accumulation of fluid in all the interstitial spaces
hemoconcentration
high ratio of blood components in relation to watery plasma
hemodilution
reduced ratio of blood components in relation to watery plasma
hypervolemia
high volume of water in the intravascular fluid compartment
hypovolemia
low volume of extracellular fluid
interstitial fluid
water located between cells
intracellular fluid
water located within cells
intravascular fluid
water located in the plasma (serum) portion of blood
ions
positively and negatively charged substances
natriuretic peptides
hormone-like substances that act in opposition to the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system
osmoreceptors
specialized neurons that sense the concentration of substances in blood
osmosis
movement of water through a semipermeable membrane from a lower to higher concentration of solutes
passive diffusion
process in which dissolved substances such as electrolytes move from an area of high concentration of solutes to an area of lower concentration of solutes through a semipermeable membrane
pitting edema
indentations in the skin following compression
renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system
chain of chemicals that increases both blood pressure and blood volume
serum osmolality
concentration of substances in blood
skin tenting
assessment finding in which skin remains elevated and is slow to return to underlying tissue when pinched
third-spacing
translocation of fluid from the intravascular or intercellular spaces to tissue compartments, where it becomes trapped and useless
Trousseau sign
assessment finding in which the hand spasms after placing a blood pressure cuff on the client’s upper arm and inflating it between the systolic and diastolic blood pressure for 3 minutes
