Water, Electrolyte, and Acid-Base Balance Flashcards
Water, Electrolyte, & Acid-Base Balance
Body Water Content
Describe:
Higher body fat and smaller amounts of skeletal muscles means less body water content. Total water content declines throughout life.
Infants are about 75% or more water
Healthy males are about 60% water
Healthy females are about 50% water
Water, Electrolyte, & Acid-Base Balance
Fluid Compartments
Describe:
Water occupies two main fluid compartments:
Intracellular fluid (ICF) Extracellular fluid (ECF)
Water, Electrolyte, & Acid-Base Balance
Fluid Compartments
Intracellular fluid (ICF)
Describe:
About two-thirds by volume, contained in the cells
Water, Electrolyte, & Acid-Base Balance
Fluid Compartments
Extracellular fluid (ECF)
Describe:
Consists of two major subdivisions:
Plasma- the fluid portion of the blood
Interstitial fluid- fluid in spaces between cells
Water, Electrolyte, & Acid-Base Balance
Fluid Compartments
Other ECF
Describe:
Lymph, cerebrospinal fluid, eye humors, synovial fluid, serous fluid, and gastrointestinal secretions
Water, Electrolyte, & Acid-Base Balance
Composition of Body Fluid
Water
Describe:
Water is the universal solvent (due to its polarity); water moves according to osmotic gradients
Water, Electrolyte, & Acid-Base Balance
Composition of Body Fluid
Solutes
Describe:
Solutes are broadly classified into:
Electrolytes- inorganic salts, all acids and bases, and some proteins
Non-electrolytes- examples include glucose, lipids, creatinine, and urea
Electrolytes have greater osmotic power than non-electrolytes
Water, Electrolyte, & Acid-Base Balance
Important Concentration Values
Blood
Sea Water
Fresh Water
Urine
Describe:
Water, Electrolyte, & Acid-Base Balance
Important Concentration Values
Blood - 300 mOsm 0.9% w/v
Sea Water - 1,000- 2400 mOsm 3.5% w/v
Fresh Water - 20-40 mOsm 0.1% w/v
Urine - 1200 mOsm 3.2% w/v
Water, Electrolyte, & Acid-Base Balance
Extracellular and Intracellular Fluids
Distinctive Pattern of Electrolytes- Extracellular Fluid
Describe:
Extracellular fluids are similar, except for the high protein content of plasma
Sodium is the chief cation ( + )
Chloride is the major anion ( - )
Water, Electrolyte, & Acid-Base Balance
Extracellular and Intracellular Fluids
Distinctive Pattern of Electrolytes- Intracellular Fluid
Describe:
Intracellular fluids have low sodium and chloride
Potassium is the chief cation ( + )
Phosphate is the chief anion ( - ) (needed for ATP)
Water, Electrolyte, & Acid-Base Balance
Extracellular and Intracellular Fluids
Anion
Describe:
A negatively charged ion, which has more electrons in its electron shells than it has protons in the nuclei.
Usually where oxidation occurs.
Water, Electrolyte, & Acid-Base Balance
Extracellular and Intracellular Fluids
Cation
Describe:
A positively charged ion, which has fewer electrons than protons in the nuclei.
Usually where reduction occurs.
Water, Electrolyte, & Acid-Base Balance
Fluid Movement Among Compartments
Describe:
Compartmental exchange is regulated by osmotic and hydrostatic pressures.
Net leakage of fluid from the blood is picked up by the lymphatic vessels and returned to the bloodstream
Exchanges between interstitial and intracellular fluids are complex due to the selective permeability of the cellular membranes
Two way water flow is substantial
Water, Electrolyte, & Acid-Base Balance
Osmotic Pressure
Describe:
Requires selectively permeable membranes
Is the flow of a solvent through a semi-permeable membrane in the direction of the concentrated solution
If the concentration of dissolved particles rises then the osmotic pressure will be higher
Water, Electrolyte, & Acid-Base Balance
Water Balance and ECF Osmolarity
Describe:
To remain properly hydrates, water intake must equal water output.
Water, Electrolyte, & Acid-Base Balance
Water Balance and ECF Osmolarity
Water Intake Sources
Describe:
Ingested fluid - 60%
Solid food - 30%
Metabolic water or water of oxidation - 10% (often a product of respiration)
Water, Electrolyte, & Acid-Base Balance
Water Balance and ECF Osmolarity
Water Output
Describe:
Urine - 60%
Feces - 4%
Insensible losses - 28% (normal loss, but not sweat)
Sweat - 8%
Water, Electrolyte, & Acid-Base Balance
Water Balance and ECF Osmolarity
Increase in osmolarity
Describe:
Increase in osmolarity triggers thirst and the release of antidiuretic hormone
Water, Electrolyte, & Acid-Base Balance
Regulation of Water Intake
Thirst
Describe:
The hypothalamic thirst center is stimulated by either decrease in plasma volume of 10%- 15% or increase in plasma osmolarity of 1%- 2%
Water, Electrolyte, & Acid-Base Balance
Regulation of Water Intake
Thirst (reaction to drinking)
Describe:
Thirst is quenched as soon as we begin to drink water
Feedback signals that inhibit the thirst centers include moistening of the mucosa of the mouth and throat, and activation of stomach and intestinal stretch receptors
Water, Electrolyte, & Acid-Base Balance
Regulation of Water Output
Obligatory Water Losses Include…
Describe:
Obligatory water losses include:
Insensible water losses from lungs and skin
Water that accompanies undigested food residue in feces
Water, Electrolyte, & Acid-Base Balance
Regulation of Water Output
Obligatory Water Loss Reflects…
Describe:
Obligatory water loss reflects that:
Kidneys excrete 900- 1200 mOsm of solutes to maintain blood homeostasis
Urine solutes must be flushed out of the body in water
Water, Electrolyte, & Acid-Base Balance
Influence and Regulation of ADH
Describe:
Water reabsorption in collecting ducts is proportional to ADH release.
Low levels produce dilute urine and reduced volume of body fluids
High ADH levels produce concentrated urine
Water, Electrolyte, & Acid-Base Balance
Influence and Regulation of ADH
Trigger of ADH
Describe:
Hypothalamic osmoreceptors trigger or inhibit AHD release. Factors that trigger ADH release include:
Prolonged fever Excessive sweating Vomiting Diarrhea Severe blood loss Traumatic burns
Water, Electrolyte, & Acid-Base Balance
Disorders of Water Balance
Dehydration
Describe:
Water loss exceeds water intake and the body is in negative fluid fluid balance
Water, Electrolyte, & Acid-Base Balance
Disorders of Water Balance
Dehydration (Signs)
Describe:
Cottonmouth, thirst, dry flushed skin, and oliguria
Prolonged dehydration may lead to weight loss fever, and mental confusion
Other consequences include hypovolemic shock and loss of electrolytes
Water, Electrolyte, & Acid-Base Balance
Disorders of Water Balance
Hypotonic Hydration
Describe:
Renal insufficiency or an extraordinary amount of water ingested quickly can lead to cellular over-hydration, or water intoxication
Water, Electrolyte, & Acid-Base Balance
Disorders of Water Balance
Hypotonic Hydration (Effect)
Describe:
ECF is diluted- sodium content is normal, but excess water is present
The resulting hyponatremia promotes net osmosis into tissue cells, causing swelling
These events must be quickly reversed to prevent severe metabolic disturbances, particularly in neurons.