Electrolyte Imbalances and Fluid Balance Quiz

Disorders of Fluid, Electrolytes & Acid-Base Balance

• This lecture covers the imbalances in fluid, electrolytes, and acid-base balance.

Outline

• Homeostasis: The balance of fluids, electrolytes, acids, and bases is maintained by physiological processes.
• Fluid distribution: Includes intracellular (ICF) and extracellular (ECF) compartments, with different concentrations of ions like K+ (high in ICF) and Na+ (high in ECF).
• Fluid movement: Passive transport (osmosis, diffusion, and filtration) and active transport.
• Tonicity: The effective osmotic pressure of a solution, categorizing solutions as isotonic (neither shink nor swell), hypotonic (swell), or hypertonic (shrink).
• Regulation of body fluids: Maintained by kidneys, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, and the atrial natriuretic system (ADH).
• Fluid imbalance disorders: Includes dehydration, hypovolemia, and hypervolemia.
• Edema: Localized or generalized swelling, caused by increased capillary pressure or decreased capillary oncotic pressure.

Objectives

• Define edema.
• List fluid imbalance disorders (e.g., dehydration, hypovolemia, hypervolemia).
• Differentiate between the three passive transport systems.
• Describe electrolyte abnormalities.
• Analyze arterial blood gases.

Homeostasis

• The balance of fluids, electrolytes, acids, and bases.
• Physiologic processes control fluid intake and output.
• Imbalances can be caused by illnesses.
• Body fluids are used to transport gases, nutrients, and wastes.
• They power body functions and help transform food into energy.

Distribution of Body Fluids

• Intracellular Fluid Compartment (ICF): Contains fluid inside cells. It accounts for approximately two-thirds of total body water in healthy adults and has a high concentration of potassium (K+).
• Extracellular Fluid Compartment (ECF): Contains fluid outside cells, including interstitial fluid and plasma. It accounts for about one-third of total body water in healthy adults and has a high concentration of sodium (Na+).

Movement of Fluids

• Passive Transport: Movement of substances without energy.
• Osmosis: Movement of water across a semipermeable membrane from an area of high water concentration to low water concentration.
• Diffusion: Movement of solutes from an area of high concentration to low concentration.
• Filtration: Movement of water and solutes across a membrane due to hydrostatic pressure.
• Active Transport: Requires energy (ATP) to move substances across a membrane, often against a concentration gradient.

Tonicity

• The ability of a surrounding solution to cause a cell to gain or lose water.
• Isotonic: The solution has the same concentration of solutes as the cell.
• Hypotonic: The solution has a lower concentration of solutes than the cell.
• Hypertonic: The solution has a higher concentration of solutes than the cell.

Regulating Body Fluids

• Kidneys: Maintain fluid balance through urine production.
• Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system: Regulates blood pressure and sodium balance.
• Antidiuretic hormone (ADH): Regulates water reabsorption in the kidneys.
• Atrial natriuretic system: Inhibits fluid retention.
• Intake and output of fluids.

Fluid Imbalances

• Dehydration: Fluid loss exceeds fluid intake.
• Hypovolemia: Decreased volume of extracellular fluid.
• Hypervolemia: Excess volume of extracellular fluid.

Edema

• Swelling caused by excess fluid in the interstitial space.
• The causes can be; increased capillary pressure, decreased capillary oncotic pressure, and increased interstitial oncotic pressure.
• Can be localized or generalized.

Electrolytes

• Cations: Positively charged ions (Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+).
• Anions: Negatively charged ions (Cl-, HCO3-, PO43-).
• Crucial for metabolic and cellular processes.
• Electrolyte imbalances can lead to various health problems.

Electrolyte Imbalances

• Various electrolyte disorders, like hyponatremia/ hypernatremia, hypokalemia/ hyperkalemia, hypomagnesemia/ hypermagnesemia, hypocalcemia/ hypercalcemia, hypophosphatemia/ hyperphosphatemia.

Sodium (Na+)

• Important for fluid balance and nerve function.
• Hyponatremia: Low sodium levels.
• Hypernatremia: High sodium levels.

Potassium (K+)

• Vital for muscle and nerve function.
• Hypokalemia: Low potassium levels.
• Hyperkalemia: High potassium levels.

Magnesium (Mg2+)

• Important for various metabolic processes and nerve function.
• Hypomagnesemia: Low magnesium levels.
• Hypermagnesemia: High magnesium levels.

Calcium (Ca2+)

• Crucial for bone health
• Hypocalcemia: Low calcium levels.
• Hypercalcemia: High calcium levels.

Phosphorus (PO43-)

• Important for bone formation and energy metabolism.
• Hypophosphatemia: Low phosphorus levels.
• Hyperphosphatemia: High phosphorus levels.

Acid-Base Balance

• Acids: Substances that release hydrogen ions (H+).
• Bases: Substances that accept hydrogen ions.
• pH: Measures the concentration of hydrogen ions (a measure of the acidity or basicity of a solution).
• Arterial blood gases (ABGs): Diagnostic tool for evaluating acid-base balance.
• Regulated by the respiratory and kidney systems.

Acid-Base Imbalances

• Acidosis: Low pH levels. Causes include respiratory or metabolic acidosis.
• Alkalosis: High pH levels. Causes include respiratory or metabolic alkalosis.

Normal Arterial Blood Gases Range

• pH: 7.35-7.45
• PaCO2: 35-45 mmHg
• HCO3-: 22-26 mEq/L
• PaO2: 80-100 mmHg

Test your knowledge on electrolyte imbalances and fluid balance concepts in the human body. This quiz covers various terms and conditions related to sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and their effects on health. Assess your understanding of osmosis, edema, and normal serum levels for key electrolytes.