Module 7: Vocabulary

Question 1

Diuretic

Answer 1

Increase fluid loss via urination.

Question 2

Electrolyte

Answer 2

Electrolytes are substances that, when dissolved in water, disassociate into charged ions.

Electrolytes are mineral salts dissolved in water, including sodium, potassium, chloride, and phosphorus. Electrolytes carry electrical charges:

Sodium (Na+) and potassium (K+) are positively charged
Chloride (Cl-) and phosphorus (HPO42-, hydrogen phosphate) are negatively charged

Question 3

Heat stroke

Answer 3

Failure of the body’s temperature regulating mechanism when it’s exposed to excessively high temperatures; a condition caused by overheating.

Question 4

Hyperkalemia

Answer 4

Insufficient potassium levels in the body that can be caused by a low dietary intake of potassium or by high sodium intakes, but more commonly it results from medications that increase water excretion, mainly diuretics.

Question 5

Hyponatremia

Answer 5

Lower levels than normal of sodium in the blood.

Question 6

Insensible water loss

Answer 6

Water loss that occurs without us being aware of it and includes water lost through breathing (exhalation) and evaporation from the skin

Question 7

Osmosis

Answer 7

The movement of molecules through a semipermeable membrane from an area where it is highly concentrated to an area where it is less concentrated.

Question 8

Solvent

Answer 8

A substance in which other materials dissolve.