Module 19: Fluid, Electrolyte, & Acid-Base Balance

Question 1

Extracellular means

Answer 1

all of the fluid that resides outside the cells

Question 2

Intracellular fluid means

Answer 2

Fluid inside the cell (most of the body is water resides inside cells)

Question 3

What is transcellular fluid?

Answer 3

Miscellaneous extracellular fluid that includes cerebrospinal fluid, synovial fluid in the joints, vitreous and aqueous humors of the eye, and digestive secretions

Question 4

If the concentration of electrolytes (therefore the osmolarity) of tissue fluid rises, water moves…

Answer 4

Out of the cells and into the tissues

Question 5

If the osmolarity of tissue fluid falls, water moves…

Answer 5

Out of the tissues and into cells

Question 6

What mainly determines the amount and direction of flow of fluid?

Answer 6

The concentration of solutes (particularly electrolytes) within each compartment

Question 7

What is osmolarity?

Answer 7

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

Question 8

What affects osmolarity?

Answer 8

Changes in water content, temperature and pressure

Question 9

What are the mechanisms that increase fluid intake?

Answer 9

1. Physical changes stimulate the thirst center in the hypothalamus.
2. Salivation decreases, causing dry mouth and thirst.
3. Water consumption occurs

Question 10

What are the mechanisms to decrease output?

Answer 10

1. Physical changes stimulate the hypothalamus.
2. This stimulates the posterior pituitary to secrete antidiuretic hormone (ADH).
3. ADH prompts the kidneys to reabsorb water and produce less urine.
4. Fluid loss slows until water is ingested

Question 11

What effect does antidiuretic hormone (ADH) have on the body?

Answer 11

Prompts the kidneys to reabsorb more water

Question 12

Disorders of water balance can result from an abnormality in

Answer 12

Fluid volume
Fluid concentration
Distribution of fluid between compartments

Question 13

When blood volume and pressure are too high, or blood osmolarity is too low, the hypothalamus inhibits the release of

Answer 13

ADH (This causes the renal tubule’s to reabsorb less water, leading to an increased urine output a decline in total body water)

Question 14

Volume depletion results from

Answer 14

Blood loss or the loss of both water and sodium

Question 15

Dehydration results when

Answer 15

The body eliminates more water than sodium

Question 16

How do the kidneys usually compensate for excessive fluid intake?

Answer 16

By producing more urine

Question 17

Fluid accumulation involves

Answer 17

The accumulation of fluid between compartments

Question 18

Edema occurs when

Answer 18

Fluid accumulates in interstitial spaces, causing tissues to swell

Question 19

What is the main electrolyte in extracellular fluid?

Answer 19

Sodium

Question 20

What electrolyte determines the volume of total body water and influences how body water is distributed between fluid compartments?

Answer 20

Sodium

Question 21

Sodium levels are primarily regulated by what 2 hormones? What do they adjust?

Answer 21

Aldosterone - Adjust the excretion of sodium

ADH - Adjust the excretion of water

Question 22

If serum Na+ (water excess) is low, serum osmolarity is low, although strong prompts what To reabsorb Na+

Answer 22

Renal tubules

Question 23

Once the renal tubule‘s reabsorb Na+ , What hormone release is suppressed, causing the kidneys to secrete more water?

Answer 23

ADH

Question 24

Hypernatremia Refers to a plasma sodium concentration greater than 146 mEq/l. It usually indicates a

Answer 24

Water deficit

Question 25

If and corrected, hypernatremia can cause

Answer 25

Edema, lethargy, and weakness

Question 26

Hyponatremia refers to a plasma sodium concentration of less than 139 mEq/l. It usually results from

Answer 26

An excess of body water

Question 27

Uncorrected, hyponatremia can result in

Answer 27

Pulmonary or cerebral edema as fluid moves into cells

Question 28

What electrolyte is the chief cation of intracellular fluid?

Answer 28

Potassium

Question 29

Hyperkalemia refers to a plasma concentration of K+ high. What effect does Hyperkalemia have on nerve and muscle cells?

Answer 29

Makes nerve and muscle cells irritable, leading to potentially fatal cardiac arrhythmias

Question 30

Hypokalemia refers to a plasma concentration of K+ low. It results in

Answer 30

Muscle weakness, depressed reflexes, and cardiac arrhythmias

Question 31

Besides strengthening bones, calcium plays a key role in what other 3 things?

Answer 31

Muscle contraction, nerve transmission, and blood clotting

Question 32

Hypercalcemia inhibits

Answer 32

Depolarization of nerve and muscle cells

Question 33

Hypocalcemia Increases…

Answer 33

Excitation of nerves and muscles

Question 34

Why are electrolytes important?

Answer 34

Electrolytes allow the nervous system to conduct charges which the body needs to function properly

Question 35

The pH of blood and tissue fluid ranges from

Answer 35

7.35 to 7.45

Question 36

Chloride, the most abundant extracellular anion, is strongly linked to sodium. What is its role?

Answer 36

Contributes to the formation of stomach acid and also helps regulate fluid balance and pH

Question 37

The pH of a solution is determined by

Answer 37

It’s concentration of hydrogen ions