Fluids and Electrolytes

Question 1

define homeostasis

Answer 1

Body fluids are regulated by fluid intake, hormonal controls and fluid output, in order to maintain homeostasis (which is essential to for survival). It is the body’s ability to respond to changes.

Question 2

Identify the fluid compartments and subcompartments of the body and the relative volumes in each.

Answer 2

Intracellular (ICF):
o All fluid within body cells, accounting for approx.
66% of total body water and 40% of body weight

Extracellular (ECF):
o All the fluid outside cells, is divided into 3 smaller
compartments:
- Interstitial fluid : including lymph, is the fluid
between the cells and outside the blood vessels
- Intravascular fluid: is blood plasma
- Transcellular fluid : separated from other fluid by
epithelium, includes cerebrospinal, pleural,
peritoneal, and synovial fluids and the fluids in
the gastrointestinal tract

Question 3

Identify the routes of water intake and output to and from the body

Answer 3

Fluid Output: occurs through 4 organs of water loss: the kidneys, the skin, the lungs, and the gastrointestinal tract

Fluid Intake: is regulated primarily through the thirst mechanism. Thirst control centre is located within the brain’s hypothalamus.

Question 4

Assessments to evaluate body fluid volume status?

Answer 4

· Daily weight
· Measuring intake and output
· Laboratory studies, review lab data, including serum and urinary electrolyte levels, hematocrit, blood creatinine level, blood urea nitrogen levels…
· Arterial blood, gases to determine ABG levels, a sample of the blood from and artery bust be taken
· Physical and behavioral nursing assessment

Question 5

Define diffusion

Answer 5

is the movement of ions and molecules in a solution across a semipermeable membrane from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration. The result is an even distribution of the solute in a solution. The rate of diffusion is affected by the molecule size, concentration and temperature of the solution

Question 6

Define Facilitated diffusion and Active transport

Answer 6

Facilitated diffusion and Active transport are 2 examples of carrier-mediated transport where molecules are moved across the plasma membrane. One is carred across the membrane by a protein such as insulin that binds to glucose ( facilitated) and the other requires energy to move materials across cell membranes against a concentration gradient (active) ex: sodium-potassium pump

Question 7

Define Osmosis

Answer 7

is the movement of water through a semipermeable membrane from an area of lesser solute concentration to an area of greater solute concentration in attempt to equalize concentrations on both sides of the membrane.

Question 8

Define Osmolarity

Answer 8

reflecting the osmolar concentration in 1 L of solution most often used to describe fluids outside the body (mOsm/L)

Question 9

Define Osmolality

Answer 9

the concentration of a solution expressed as the total number of solute particles per kilogram

Question 10

What is the difference between crystalloids and colloids

Answer 10

· Crystalloids:
o used most commonly and include glucose, sodium
chloride and lactated Ringer’s solutions
o contain solutes that mix, dissolve, and cross
semipermeable membranes.
o They vary in their tonicity

· Colloids:
o Contain protein or starches which does not cross
semipermeable membranes and therefore remain
suspended and distributed in the extracellular space,
primary the intravascular space, for up to several
days
o Used to increase the osmotic pressure in the
intravascular space to increase vascular volume in
critical situations
o Either semi-synthetic (dextran, pentastarch,
hetastarch) or human plasma derivatives(albumin,
plasma proteins or blood)

Question 11

What is a hypotonic solution?

Answer 11

osmotic pressure lower than plasma, moves fluid into the ceslls, causing them to enlarge

Question 12

What is an isotonic solution?

Answer 12

solution with the same osmolarity as blood plasma

Question 13

What is an hypertonic solution?

Answer 13

a higher osmotic pressure pulls fluid from cells, causing them to shrink

Question 14

Explain he mechanism of thirst

Answer 14

· The thirst mechanism will also be stimulated when excess fluid is lost and hypovolemia occurs, as in excessive vomiting and hemorrhage

Question 15

What is an average adult’s fluid intake?

Answer 15

An average adult’s fluid intake is about 2200 to 2700 mL per day.
- oral intake accounts for 1100 to 1400mL, solid foods
800-1000 and oxidative metabolism for 300 mL/day

Question 16

What is hyponatremia and hypernatremia ?

Answer 16

Sodium imbalances

Question 17

What is hypokalemia and hyperkalemia?

Answer 17

Potassium imbalances

Question 18

What is hypocalcemia and hypercalcemia?

Answer 18

Calcium imbalances

Question 19

What is hypomagnesimia and hypermagnesemia?

Answer 19

Magnesium imbalances

Question 20

What is hypochloremia and hychloremia?

Answer 20

Chloride imbalances

Question 21

What are the 2 basic types of fluid imbalances?

Answer 21

Isotonic deficit
exist when water and electrolytes are gained or lost in equal proportions

Osmolar imbalances
are losses or excesses of only water, so the concentration of the serum is affected.

Question 22

What are some purposes of water?

Answer 22

Hydration,
transport, 
regulate our temperature, 
acts as a cushion, 
a solvent

Question 23

Why do babies dehydrate more quickly than adults?

Answer 23

• Because they have a larger surface of skin/water and they can lose it from the skin. Also, their kidneys are not well developed and they do not conserve liquid as well.

Question 24

Name some signs of dehydration

Answer 24

decreased output, dark urin, poor skin turgor, fatigue, headache, dry mucosa, decrease in tears, heart rate increase, BP wills stay normal for a while, but then it will drop which means its more severe

Question 25

What is the normal serum for potassium?

Answer 25

3.5 – 5.0 mmol/L

Question 26

What is the normal serum for chloride?

Answer 26

98 – 106 mmol/L

Question 27

What is the normal serum for sodium?

Answer 27

136 – 145 mmol/L

Question 28

What is the normal serum for magnesium?

Answer 28

0.65 – 1.05 mmol/L

Question 29

What are the blood gases in the body?

Answer 29

pCo2 35 – 45 Hg (partial pressure of carbon dioxide)
p02 80 – 100 mm Hg (partial pressure of oxygen)
Sa02 95 – 99 %
Base excess ± 2
Bicarbonate 22 – 26 mEq/L

Question 30

What is the normal PH for humans?

Answer 30

pH 7.35 – 7.45

Question 31

What is acidosis ?

Answer 31

More H+ (lower number) = acidosis

Question 32

What is alkalosis?

Answer 32

Less h+ (higher number) = alkalosis

Question 33

What is the body’s total water weight in L

Answer 33

42 L

Question 34

Thirst is regulated by what part of the brain?

Answer 34

Hypothalamus

Question 35

Name the common electrolytes found in the body

Answer 35

Calcium
Chloride
Magnesium
Phosphorous
Potassium
Sodium

Question 36

the movement of fluid from capillaries to the interstitial space is called:

a) osmosis
b) diffusion
c) filtration
d) graduation

Answer 36

c) filtration