Chapter 2 - Fluid, Electrolyte, and Acid-Base Imbalances Flashcards
aldosterone
a hormone whose main role is to regulate salt and water in the body, thus having an effect on blood pressure
anion
a negatively charged ion
approximate percentage of water weight
an adult is approximately 60% water and an infant is approximately 70% water
ascites
the accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal cavity, causing abdominal swelling
buffer system
The general category name for a variety of systems in the body that help the body to maintain normal blood pH
Each buffer system is made up of two compounds, together referred to as a buffer pair.
capillary permeability
the property or capability of capillary walls to allow the selective flow of substances and cells into and out of the capillary
cardiac dysrhythmia
a problem with the rate or rhythm of your heartbeat caused by changes in your heart’s normal sequence of electrical impulses
carpopedal spasms
frequent and involuntary muscle contractions in the hands and feet
cation
a positively charged ion
cerebrospinal fluid
a clear, colorless body fluid found within the tissue that surrounds the brain and spinal cord of all vertebrates; it acts as a cushion
chloride
an electrolyte that helps the body maintain its fluid balance. It also helps make the digestive enzymes that help the body metabolize food.
dependent area of the body
an area of the body affected by gravity (such as the buttocks)
dependent edema
a term that doctors use to describe gravity-related swelling, found most often in the legs and feet
diabetic ketoacidosis
a serious complication of diabetes that occurs when your body produces high levels of blood acids called ketones
diffusion
the net movement of anything (for example, atoms, ions, molecules, energy) from a region of higher concentration to a region of lower concentration
edema
swelling caused by excess fluid trapped in your body’s tissues
edematous
(adjective) relating to or affected with edema
electrocardiogram
also called ECG: a record or display of a person’s heartbeat
electrocardiography
the process of producing an electrocardiogram
extracellular compartment
the space outside the organism’s cells
extracellular fluid
all body fluid outside the cells of any multicellular organism; it includes intravascular fluid and interstitial fluid
hematocrit
the volume percentage (vol%) of red blood cells (RBC) in blood, measured as part of a blood test; there are other names for the hematocrit, such as: packed cell volume (PCV), volume of packed red cells (VPRC), or erythrocyte volume fraction (EVF)
homeothermic
(adjective) maintaining a relatively constant body temperature that is independent of the temperature of the surrounding environment
hydrostatic pressure
the pressure that any fluid in a confined space exerts (for example, if fluid is in a container, there will be some pressure on the wall of that container)
hypercalcemia
a condition in which the blood has too much calcium
hyperchloremia
an abnormally high level of chloride in your blood
hyperkalemia
a medical problem in which you have too much potassium in your blood
hypermagnesemia
a condition in which the blood has too much magnesium
hypernatremia
a condition where there is an excessive sodium level in the blood and extracellular fluids. Manifestations include weakness, agitation, thirst, and decreased urination.
hyperphosphatemia
an abnormally high level of phosphate in the blood
hypertonic dehydration
a dehydration that refers to a loss of more water than electrolytes
hypertonic solution
a solution that has a higher solute concentration or lower water content than another solution
hypocalcemia
a condition in which the blood has too little calcium
hypochloremia
an abnormally low level of chloride in your blood
hypokalemia
a metabolic imbalance characterized by extremely low potassium levels in the blood. It is a symptom of another disease or condition, or a side effect of diuretic drugs.
hypomagnesemia
a condition in which the blood has too little magnesium
hyponatremia
a condition where sodium levels in the blood are lower than normal. Low sodium levels impair nerve conduction and result in fluid imbalances in the compartments of the body. Manifestations include fatigue, muscle cramps, and abdominal discomfort or cramps with nausea and vomiting
hypophosphatemia
an abnormally low level of phosphate in the blood
hypotonic dehydration
a dehydration that refers to a loss of more electrolytes than water
hypotonic solution
a solution that has a lower solute concentration or higher water content than another solution
hypovolemia
the medical condition where there is too little fluid in the blood, which can be due to blood loss or loss of body fluids
importance of water
a reference to the fact that water is a major component in the body, is necessary to maintain homeostasis, and is a major transportation source for movement of nutrients and other things between cells
interstitial fluid
a fluid found in the spaces around cells; it helps bring oxygen and nutrients from the blood capillaries to cells and to remove waste products from the cells
intracellular compartment
the space within the organism’s cells
intravascular fluid
another name for blood; the acronym is IVF
isotonic dehydration
in this form of dehydration, water and electrolytes are lost in equivalent amounts
isotonic solution
a solution that has the same solute and water content as another solution
laryngospasm
a spasm of the vocal cords that temporarily makes it difficult to speak or breathe
metabolic acidosis
a condition in which there is too much acid in the body fluids
metabolic alkalosis
a condition that occurs when your blood becomes overly alkaline
movement of water
a reference to the fact that the body maintains a constant level of water by consuming water through food and drink and expelling it through perspiration, urination, defecation, and exhalation of air
normal blood pH
blood has a normal pH range of 7.35 to 7.45; death usually results if blood pH is below 6.8 or above 7.8
osmoreceptor
a sensory receptor primarily found in the hypothalamus of most homeothermic organisms that detects changes in osmotic pressure
osmosis
the movement of water from an area of higher water concentration through a semipermeable membrane to an area of lower water concentration
osmosis vs diffusion
osmosis deals with the movement of water and diffusion deals with the movement of anything
osmotic pressure
the pressure produced by or associated with osmosis
paresthesia
an abnormal sensation, typically tingling or pricking (“pins and needles”), caused chiefly by pressure on or damage to peripheral nerves
peritoneal cavity
The space within the abdomen that contains the intestines, the stomach, and the liver. It is bound by thin membranes.
peritonitis
a redness and swelling (inflammation) of the tissue that lines your belly or abdomen (called the peritoneum)
phosphate
an electrolyte that helps your body with energy production and nerve function
respiratory acidosis
a condition that occurs when the lungs cannot remove all of the carbon dioxide the body produces. This causes body fluids, especially the blood, to become too acidic.
respiratory alkalosis
a condition marked by a low level of carbon dioxide in the blood, often due to breathing excessively. This causes the pH of the blood to rise and become too alkaline.
serum pH
another word for blood pH
tetany
a symptom characterized by muscle cramps, spasms, or tremors
third-spacing
a situation in which fluid shifts out of the blood into a body cavity or tissue where it is no longer available as circulating fluid
tonicity
the relative concentration of water between two areas separated by a membrane; it determines the direction of osmosis; an area of lower tonicity (higher water concentration) moves into an area of higher tonicity (lower water concentration); this term refers to osmosis
vasopressin
also called antidiuretic hormone (ADH); it is a hormone that controls the amount of fluid leaving the body in the urine
