Module 4: Electrolytes

Question 1

What mechanisms balance water and electrolytes?

Answer 1

Thirst - (Osmoreceptors in the hypothalamus)
Antidiuretic hormone (ADH) - (Reabsorption of water from the kidney tubules)
Aldosterone - (Reabsorption of sodium and water)
Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and T-type natriuretic peptide -
(Synthesized by myocardial cells
Regulation of fluid, sodium, and potassium levels)

Question 2

Fluid circulates the body via

Answer 2

Filtration and osmosis (depending on membrane permeability)

Question 3

Water moves through compartments via

Answer 3

• Hydrostatic pressure

- Osmotic pressure

Question 4

Edema is excessive amount of fluid in the

Answer 4

Interstitial compartment

Question 5

What are the three spaces of the body?

Answer 5

Intracellular – within the cell
Intravascular - Within the blood vessel
Interstitial – everything in between, what tissue cells are bathed in

Question 6

Hydrostatic pressure may be viewed as the ________ force

Answer 6

“Push”

Question 7

Osmotic pressure may be viewed as the ________ force

Answer 7

“Pull”

Question 8

What are 4 causes of edema?

Answer 8

• Increased capillary hydrostatic pressure
• Loss of plasma proteins
• Obstruction of lymphatic circulation
• Increased capillary permeability

Question 9

Increased capillary hydrostatic pressure is caused by?
And forces increased fluid out of capillaries into _____
Is the cause of _____

Answer 9

Higher blood pressure or increased blood volume

• tissue
• Cause of pulmonary edema

Question 10

Loss of plasma proteins, because of Adema, results in decreased___________

Answer 10

Plasma osmotic pressure

Question 11

Obstruction of lymphatic circulation causes ____________ and excessive fluid and proteins are not returned to __________

Answer 11

Localized edema

General circulation

Question 12

What increases capillary permeability?

Answer 12

Histamines and other chemical mediators

Question 13

What are the effects of edema? (8)

Answer 13

Swelling-local area, Heading Adema, increase in body weight, functional impairment, pain, impaired arterial circulation, dental complications, edema in skin (susceptible to tissue breakdown from pressure)

Question 14

What is hyponatremia?

Answer 14

Refers to a serum sodium concentration below 3.8 to 5 mmol/L

Question 15

What is hypernatremia?

Answer 15

Excessive sodium level in the blood and extracellular fluids

Cause is imbalance in sodium and water

Question 16

Excess potassium ions in interstitial fluid may lead to

Answer 16

Hyperkalemia

Question 17

What are some affects of hyperkalemia?

Answer 17

Cardiac dysrhythmias, muscle weakness is common, fatigue, nausea, paresthesias (abnormal sensation, typically “pins and needles” caused chiefly by pressure on or damage to peripheral nerves)

Question 18

What are the four major factors affecting the sodium balance of the body?

Answer 18

• aldosterone
• natriuretic hormone
• antidiuretic hormone
• The amount of free water in the body

Question 19

What system is most seriously affected by potassium imbalance?

Answer 19

The cardiovascular system – specifically the heart

Question 20

Potassium imbalances (both high and low levels) interfere with

Answer 20

Both conduction through the heart and the contraction of the heart muscle - This leads to arrhythmias and can possibly lead to cardiac arrest and death

Question 21

How does the body compensate for acidosis?

Answer 21

• deep rapid breathing (increases the amount of carbon dioxide exhaled)
• Kidneys try to compensate by excreting more acid in the urine

Question 22

Compensation mechanisms for pH imbalance occurs to balance the relative proportion of

Answer 22

Hydrogen ions and bicarbonate ions in circulation

Question 23

Acidosis means

Answer 23

• Excess hydrogen ions

- Decrease in serum pH

Question 24

Alkalosis is

Answer 24

• Deficit of hydrogen ions

- Increase in serum pH

Question 25

What is oncotic Pressure?

Answer 25

Pressure exerted by proteins in plasma

Question 26

What are 4 causes of edema?

Answer 26

• Increased capillary Hydrostatic pressure
• Loss of plasma proteins (particularly albumin)
• Obstruction of lymphatic circulation
• Increased capillary permeability