Fluid Compartments in the Body
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Questions and Answers

What is the primary reason for the difference in body water composition between men and women?

  • Higher adipose tissue content in women (correct)
  • Men have larger organs
  • Higher muscle mass in men
  • Women have a higher metabolic rate

    • How does age affect body water content?

  • It remains constant throughout life
  • It decreases with age, especially in the skin (correct)
  • It causes an increase in body fat percentage
  • It generally increases with age

    • What percentage of body weight does the total fluid volume approximately represent in a 70 kg individual?

  • 60% (correct)
  • 50%
  • 70%
  • 80%

    • Which fluid compartment is NOT classified as part of the extracellular fluid?

    <p>Intracellular fluid</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which condition is NOT typically associated with chronic or repeated dehydration?

    <p>Increased water retention</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the osmolality threshold indicating hypertonicity of serum?

    <p>Na+ &gt; 145 mmol/L</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What specialized fluid compartment includes cerebrospinal fluid and synovial fluid?

    <p>Transcellular fluid</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What common cause contributes to dehydration among older adults?

    <p>Tendency to drink less</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role does the Na-K pump primarily play in maintaining cellular homeostasis?

    <p>It actively transports potassium ions into the cell while moving sodium ions out.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In using the Nernst equation, what is primarily calculated?

    <p>The electrochemical equilibrium potential for specific ions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a significant characteristic of intracellular fluid compared to extracellular fluid?

    <p>Greater amount of proteins and potassium ions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does gender typically influence body water composition?

    <p>Men typically have a higher percentage of body water due to greater muscle mass.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What correlation exists between age and body water content?

    <p>As people age, the percentage of body water decreases due to increased fat mass.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following statements about solutes in the body's fluid compartments is correct?

    <p>Each compartment has distinct solute compositions that are crucial for specific functions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why is the lipid bilayer considered semi-permeable?

    <p>It selectively permits the diffusion of small, non-polar molecules while blocking charged ones.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What aspect of osmosis is critical to maintaining homeostasis within fluid compartments?

    <p>The balance between the osmolarity of intracellular and extracellular fluids.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary function of the Na-K pump in maintaining cellular homeostasis?

    <p>To transport potassium ions out of the cell and sodium ions into the cell.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How would you apply the Nernst equation to determine the equilibrium potential for potassium ($K^+$) in muscle cells?

    <p>By calculating the ratio of extracellular to intracellular concentrations of potassium.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What distinguishes intracellular fluid from extracellular fluid in terms of sodium concentration?

    <p>Intracellular fluid has a sodium concentration of $10 ext{ mMol/L}$ compared to $140 ext{ mMol/L}$ in extracellular fluid.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following statements correctly describes gender differences in body water composition?

    <p>Men often have a higher percentage of total body water than women.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does age correlate with body water composition?

    <p>As individuals age, their total body water percentage typically decreases.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary electrolyte difference between muscle cells and plasma?

    <p>Muscle cells have significantly higher calcium concentrations than plasma.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which factor does NOT contribute to the osmolarity of a fluid compartment?

    <p>The charge of protein molecules.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which electrolyte is predominantly higher in plasma than in intracellular fluid?

    <p>Sodium ($Na^+$)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Fluid Compartments in the Body

    • The adult human body consists of approximately 60% water.
    • This water is found in various compartments:
      • Interstitial fluid: The fluid between cells, including lymph. It accounts for 36% or 15L of body water.
      • Blood plasma: Makes up 7% or 3L of body water.
      • Transcellular fluid: Specialized fluid compartments, such as:
        • Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the spinal cord, choroid plexus, and brain ventricles.
        • Aqueous and vitreous humor in the eyeball.
        • Synovial fluid in joints, representing 2% or 1L of body fluid.
        • Saliva, gastric juice, and urine.
    • Total body fluid: The sum of all fluid compartments is approximately 42L, representing around 60% of total body weight.
    • Fluid differences between genders: Women have slightly less body water than men due to their higher adipose tissue content.
    • Fluid changes with age: Water content decreases with age, particularly noticeable in the skin. Older individuals may experience dehydration because they drink less.
    • Dehydration: Can be assessed by:
      • Measuring the osmolality of blood.
      • Assessing the specific gravity or osmolality of urine.
      • Hypertonicity of serum: Sodium levels greater than 145 mmol/L.
      • Sport medicine: Urine osmolality above 700 mOsmol/kg H2O or urine specific gravity greater than 1.02. However, urine measurements are less reliable as they depend on factors like exercise timing and fluid intake.

    Consequences of Dehydration

    • Chronic or repeated dehydration can lead to:
      • Urinary tract infections.
      • Lung infections.
      • Kidney stones.
      • Kidney failure.
      • Seizures.
    • Dehydration is particularly dangerous for babies, children, and older adults.
    • Causes of dehydration:
      • Diarrhea and vomiting, often due to infections or fevers.
      • Intensive exercise in hot weather, leading to excessive sweating.
      • Medication use.
      • Diabetes.
      • Insufficient fluid intake.

    Fluid Compartment Composition

    • The extracellular compartments (plasma, lymph, and interstitial fluids) have similar composition, but plasma contains more protein than interstitial fluid.
    • Intracellular fluid differs significantly:
      • Sodium (Na+): Lower concentration in intracellular fluid (10 mMol/L) compared to plasma (140 mMol/L).
      • Potassium (K+): Higher concentration in intracellular fluid (150 mMol/L) compared to plasma (5 mMol/L).
      • Calcium (Ca2+): Significantly lower concentration in intracellular fluid (10-4 mMol/L) compared to plasma (2 mMol/L).
      • Chloride (Cl-): Higher concentration in plasma (105 mMol/L) compared to intracellular fluid (5 mMol/L).
      • Organic phosphates: Higher concentration in intracellular fluid (100 mMol/L) compared to plasma (10 mMol/L).
      • Proteins: Higher concentration in plasma (1 mMol/L) compared to intracellular fluid (2 mMol/L).
      • pH: Slightly more acidic in intracellular fluid (7.1) compared to plasma (7.4).
      • Osmolarity: Similar in both compartments (approximately 263 mOsmol/L in plasma and 267 mOsmol/L in muscle cells).

    Biological Membranes

    • Lipid bilayer: The main component of biological membranes.
    • Phosphatidylcholine: A glycerophospholipid found in the bilayer.
    • Glycolipids and sterols: Also present in the lipid bilayer.
    • Thickness: The lipid bilayer is approximately 5nm thick.
    • Signaling proteins: These proteins span the entire thickness of the membrane, facilitating communication across the membrane.

    Key Concepts

    • Permeability of membranes: Lipid membranes are semi-permeable, allowing some molecules to pass through easily while restricting others.
    • Diffusion: Movement of molecules from a high concentration area to a low concentration area.
    • Brownian motion: Random movement of particles in a fluid.
    • Osmosis: Movement of water across a semi-permeable membrane from a region of high water concentration to a region of low water concentration.
    • Osmolarity: The concentration of solute particles in a solution.
    • Osmolality: The concentration of solute particles per unit mass of solvent.
    • Tonicity: The relative concentration of solutes in two solutions separated by a semi-permeable membrane.
    • Transport across membranes: How substances move across the membrane.
    • Exchange across capillary walls: The movement of substances between blood and interstitial fluid through capillary walls.
    • pH: A measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a solution.
    • Electrical charge: The charge carried by ions and other charged particles.
    • Electrolytes: Ions in biological systems.

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    Fluid Compartments PDF - Introduction to Medical Sciences 1

    Description

    Explore the various fluid compartments within the adult human body, including interstitial fluid, blood plasma, and transcellular fluid. Understand the importance of these compartments and how fluid distribution varies with gender and age. Test your knowledge on body water percentages and their physiological significance.

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