Water & Electrolytes

Question 1

Major extracellular electrolyte

Answer 1

Na+

Question 2

Major intracellular electrolyte

Answer 2

K+

Question 3

Colloid osmotic pressure

Answer 3

Major force that holds fluid intravascularly
Regulated by liver synthesis of albumin
Decreased by effusions, edema, hypovolemia, hypoalbuminemia, vascular leaks

Question 4

Purple top tube (EDTA) effects on electrolytes in blood sample

Answer 4

Increased K+
Decreased Ca2+/Mg2+
Decreased HCO3-
(Looks like acidosis.. Ethylene diamine tetraacetic ACID

Question 5

Blue top tube (Sodium-Cirtrate) effects of electrolytes in blood sample

Answer 5

Increased Na+
Decreased Ca2+/Mg2+
Decreased HCO3-
Decreased Cl-

(Looks like acidosis)

Question 6

Major determinant of osmolality

Answer 6

Sodium

Question 7

Causes of hyponatremia

Answer 7

GI loss (vomiting, diarrhea)
Renal loss (diuretics, hypoadrenocorticism)
Sequestration (chylothorax, uroabdomen) 
Cutaneous (sweating)
Inadequate intake (herbivores)

Question 8

Potassium shifts _____ due to acidosis

Answer 8

extracellularly

exchanges for H+

Question 9

What stimulates cellular uptake of glucose WITH potassium?

Answer 9

Insulin

Question 10

What can be used to treat hyperkalemia by shifting K+ into cells?

Answer 10

Insulin with dextrose

Ex. urethral obstruction in male cat

Question 11

What happens when K+ accumulates in blood as a result of diabetes mellitus (insulin deficiency)?

Answer 11

Hyperkalemia

Question 12

How can a diabetic be normokalemic?

Answer 12

K+ removed from blood by kidneys

Question 13

How can a diabetic be hypokalemic?

Answer 13

Diabetics can develop ketoacidosis (excess H+)

Causes K+ to shift out of cells and be lost by kidneys

Question 14

Causes of hypokalemia

Answer 14

GI loss
Increased renal excretion
Decreased intake
Iatrogenic
Metabolic alkalosis

Question 15

Major extracellular anion

Answer 15

Cl-

Question 16

Causes of hyperchloremia

Answer 16

Na related increases
Compensation for decreased bicarb
Iatrogenic
Spurious

Question 17

Causes of hypochloremia

Answer 17

Na related decreases
Loss of chloride rich secretions
Iatrogenic
spurious

Question 18

What does a loss of chloride WITHOUT loss of Na indicate?

Answer 18

vomiting

Question 19

How can you tell on a blood gas whether a metabolic acidosis is due to a loss of bicarb OR a titration of bicarb?

Answer 19

With a loss of bicarb, Cl- will be increased