Fluids and Electrolytes Flashcards
Intracellular Fluid (ICF)
- fluid inside cells
- 2/3 of body fluid
- primarily located in skeletal muscle mass
Extracellular Fluid (ECF)
- fluid outside cells
- 1/3 of body fluid
- transport system that carries nutrients and waste to and from cells
3 compartments:
- interstitial
- intravascular
- transcellular (synovial fluid, CSF, pleural and peritoneal fluid)
Osmolarity
concentration of particles (solutes) dissolved in a solution (solvents)
measure for evaluating concentration of plasma, urine and body fluids
*plasma osmolarity is usually between 280 and 300 mmol/kg
Tonicity
the ability of an extracellular solution to make water move into and out of a cell by osmosis
- related to its osmotic concentration (osmolarity)
a. solution with LOW osmotic concentration has FEWER solute particles per litre = LOWER TONICITY
b. solution with HIGH osmotic concentration has MORE solute particles per litre = HIGH TONICITY
Osmosis
movement of water between two compartment separated by semipermeable membrane
water moves from areas of low solute concentration to areas of high solute concentration
Hypertonic IV Fluid
fluid leaves cells
Hypotonic IV Fluid
fluid goes into cells
Isotonic IV Fluid
no osmosis, not moving in or out
Hydrostatic pressure
- force within a fluid compartment
- major force that pushes water out of the vascular system at the capillary level
Oncotic pressure
- colloid osmotic pressure
- osmotic pressure exerted by protein, such as albumin, to pull water into circulatory system
*albumin accounts for 70% of oncotic pressure
Filtration
fluid moves out of the capillary into the interstitial space
Reabsorption
fluid moves back into capillary from the interstitial space
Net filtration
Starling hypothesis
Forces favouring filtration
a. capillary hydrostatic pressure (blood pressure)
b. interstitial oncotic pressure (water pulling)
Forces opposing filtration
c. plasma oncotic pressure (water pulling)
d. interstitial hydrostatic pressure
Albumin and oncotic pressure
when albumin levels are too low, water leaves vasculature and going into interstitial space
= edema, swelling!
albumin is manufactured by the liver
Causes of edema
- increased capillary permeability
- burns, inflammation - changes in plasma protein level
- cirrhosis, malnutrition, kidney disease causing loss of plasma protein - increased capillary hydrostatic pressure
- salt and water retention, heart failure
*lymphatic system usually absorbs fluids but if lymph system is blocked, fluid gets stuck
Third spacing
fluid accumulation in part of the body where it is not easily exchanged with ECF
increased permeability causes protein to leak out, which then pulls water out as well
i.e. patient with severe infection
S/S of Third Spacing
a. decreased urine output
b. increased HR
c. decreased BP
d. increased weight
e. edema, ascites
Hypothalamic-pituitary Regulation
osmoreceptors in hypothalamus sense fluid deficit or excess
- fluid excess»_space; secretion of ADH is suppressed at posterior pituitary»_space; urinary excretion of water
- fluid deficit»_space; secretion of ADH is increased»_space; water reabsorption
**Fluid Deficit: hypothalamus stimulates thirst and ADH release
Adrenal Cortical Regulation
Fluid Deficit: hypothalamus signals anterior pituitary to secrete ACTH, which then signals
adrenal cortex to secrete
a. cortisol
b. aldosterone
which increases Na+ reabsorption and K+ excretion
Renal regulation
primary organ for regulating fluid and electrolyte balance
adjust urine volume by:
a. selective reabsorption of water and electrolytes
b. renal tubules are sites of action of ADH and aldosterone
Cardiac regulation
Natriuretic peptides are antagonists to the RAAS
- produced by cardiomyocytes in response to increased atrial pressure
**natriuretic peptides suppress secretion of aldosterone, renin, and ADH to decrease blood volume and pressure
Gastrointestinal regulation
INPUT
- oral intake
OUTPUT
- feces
- diarrhea and vomiting
*can lead to significant fluid and electrolyte loss
Insensible water loss
invisible vaporization from lungs and skin to regulate body temperature
- approximately 600 to 900ml/day
- no electrolytes are lost
Age related considerations
a. structural changes in kidney
b. hormonal changes
c. loss of subcutaneous tissue
d. reduced thirst mechanism