Chapter 24: Water & Electrolyte Flashcards
Newborn baby’s body weight is about
75% water
Total body water (TBW)
content of average young adults is 60% in men and 50% in women
obese and elderly people body water %
as little as 45% by weight
why is women’s totals body water average slightly less?
they have more adipose tissue, which displaces water
Fluid compartments
areas separated by selectively permeable membranes and differing in chemical composition
ECF is divided into
- 25% tissue (interstitial) fluid
- 8% blood plasma and lymph
- 2% transcellular fluid
intracellular fluid (ICF) %
65%
extracellular fluid (ECF)
35%
Fluid balance
when daily water gains and losses are equal (about 2,500 mL/day)
gains come from which two sources?
metabolic water and performed water
Metabolic water
formed by aerobic metabolism and dehydration synthesis
Preformed water
ingested in food and drink
cutaneous transpiration
water that diffuses through epidermis and evaporates
Insensible water loss
not usually aware of it; breath and cutaneous transpiration
Sensible water loss
noticeable output; urine and moderate sweating
Fluid deficiency
fluid imbalance that arises when fluid output exceeds intake over long period of time
Volume depletion (hypovolemia)
- proportional amounts of sodium and water are lost without replacement
- Total body water declines but osmolarity remains normal
- Caused by hemorrhage, burns, chronic vomiting or diarrhea, aldosterone hyposecretion (Addison disease)
Dehydration (negative water balance)
- body eliminates significantly more water than sodium
- ECF osmolarity rises
- Caused by lack of water intake, diabetes mellitus, diabetes insipidus (ADH hyposecretion), profuse sweating, overuse of diuretics
why is fluid excess is much less common than fluid deficiency?
because kidneys are highly effective in compensating for excessive intake by excreting more urine
Volume excess
- both sodium and water are retained and ECF remains isotonic
- Caused by aldosterone hypersecretion or renal failure
Hypotonic hydration (water intoxication or positive fluid balance)
- more water than sodium is retained or ingested and ECF becomes hypotonic
- lose large amounts of water and salt through urine and sweat, but replace it by drinking only plain water
Fluid sequestration
- excess accumulation of fluid in a particular location
- Hemorrhage can cause fluid sequestration as blood pools and clots in the tissues
Edema
accumulation of fluid in interstitial spaces; most common form of fluid sequestration
Pleural effusion
fluid accumulation in pleural cavity, caused by some lung infections