Animal Clinical Care 1.1

Body Fluids Composition

• Body fluids consist of water and its solutes, which are substances dissolved in the body water.

Solutes in Body Fluids

• Electrolytes, such as sodium, chloride, and potassium, are essential solutes in body fluids.
• Other solutes include glucose and other substances.

Importance of Body Water

• Approximately 60% of an adult animal's total body weight is comprised of water.
• Water is critical for normal body function and overall health.

Fluid Physiology: Body Fluids

• Body fluids consist of water and its solutes, known as substances dissolved in body water.

Body Fluid Composition

• Electrolytes are a type of solute, examples include sodium, chloride, and potassium.
• Other solutes include substances like glucose.

Body Water Distribution

• Approximately 60% of an adult animal's total body weight is made up of water, crucial for normal body function.
• Body water is divided between two main compartments: intracellular and extracellular spaces.

Intracellular and Extracellular Fluids

• ⅔ of body water is intracellular fluid (ICF), located inside cells.
• ⅓ of body water is extracellular fluid (ECF), located outside of cells.

Body Fluids Composition

• Body fluids consist of water and its solutes (substances dissolved in water)
• Solutes include electrolytes (e.g. sodium, chloride, potassium) and other substances (e.g. glucose)

Body Water Distribution

• Approximately 60% of an adult animal's total body weight is made up of water, which is critical for normal body function
• Body water is distributed between intracellular and extracellular spaces within the body
• ⅔ of body water is intracellular fluid (ICF), located inside cells
• ⅓ of body water is extracellular fluid (ECF), located outside of cells

Extracellular Fluid (ECF) Compartments

• ECF is further divided into three compartments:
  • Interstitial fluid (fluid around cells)
  • Intravascular fluid (plasma)
  • Transcellular fluid (e.g. cerebrospinal fluid - CSF)
• Fluid composition varies between these different compartments

Body Fluid Composition

• Body fluids consist of water and its solutes (substances dissolved in the water)
• Solutes include electrolytes (e.g. sodium, chloride, and potassium) and other substances (e.g. glucose)

Body Fluid Distribution

• Approximately 60% of an adult animal's total body weight is made up of water
• Body water is distributed between intracellular and extracellular spaces within the body
• ⅔ of body water is inside cells (intracellular fluid, ICF)
• ⅓ of body water is outside of cells (extracellular fluid, ECF)

Extracellular Fluid (ECF) Compartments

• ECF is further divided into:
  • Interstitial fluid (fluid around cells)
  • Intravascular fluid (plasma)
  • Transcellular fluid (e.g. cerebrospinal fluid, CSF)

Fluid Movement and Balance

• Water moves across cell membranes to maintain normal fluid balance within the body
• Factors that affect this movement include:
  • Differing solute concentrations between fluids in separate compartments (osmotic pressure)
  • Presence of plasma proteins within the blood (colloid osmotic pressure)
  • Blood pressure (hydrostatic pressure)

Body Fluid Composition

• Body fluids consist of water and its solutes (substances dissolved in the water)
• Solutes include electrolytes (e.g. sodium, chloride, and potassium) and other substances (e.g. glucose)

Body Fluid Distribution

• Approximately 60% of an adult animal's total body weight is made up of water
• Body water is distributed between intracellular and extracellular spaces within the body
• ⅔ of body water is inside cells (intracellular fluid, ICF)
• ⅓ of body water is outside of cells (extracellular fluid, ECF)

Extracellular Fluid (ECF) Compartments

• ECF is further divided into:
  • Interstitial fluid (fluid around cells)
  • Intravascular fluid (plasma)
  • Transcellular fluid (e.g. cerebrospinal fluid, CSF)

Fluid Movement and Balance

• Water moves across cell membranes to maintain normal fluid balance within the body
• Factors that affect this movement include:
  • Differing solute concentrations between fluids in separate compartments (osmotic pressure)
  • Presence of plasma proteins within the blood (colloid osmotic pressure)
  • Blood pressure (hydrostatic pressure)

Body Fluid Composition

• Body fluids consist of water and its solutes (substances dissolved in the water)
• Solutes include electrolytes (e.g. sodium, chloride, and potassium) and other substances (e.g. glucose)

Body Fluid Distribution

• Approximately 60% of an adult animal's total body weight is made up of water
• Body water is distributed between intracellular and extracellular spaces within the body
• ⅔ of body water is inside cells (intracellular fluid, ICF)
• ⅓ of body water is outside of cells (extracellular fluid, ECF)

Extracellular Fluid (ECF) Compartments

• ECF is further divided into:
  • Interstitial fluid (fluid around cells)
  • Intravascular fluid (plasma)
  • Transcellular fluid (e.g. cerebrospinal fluid, CSF)

Fluid Movement and Balance

• Water moves across cell membranes to maintain normal fluid balance within the body
• Factors that affect this movement include:
  • Differing solute concentrations between fluids in separate compartments (osmotic pressure)
  • Presence of plasma proteins within the blood (colloid osmotic pressure)
  • Blood pressure (hydrostatic pressure)

Water Balance

• Water is gained through:
  • Drinking fluids
  • Consuming food that contains water
  • Metabolic processes that produce water as a byproduct of food metabolism

Water Loss

• Water is lost through:
  • Urination
  • Defecation
  • Exhalation through the respiratory tract
  • Sweat through the skin
  • Vomiting and diarrhea

Regulation of Water Balance

• The body regulates fluid volume to maintain homeostasis by matching daily fluid inputs and outputs
• Key components of this regulation include:
  • Receptors that detect changes in body fluid
  • Hormones that help regulate fluid balance
  • The hypothalamus in the brain, which plays a crucial role in regulating fluid balance
  • The kidneys, which help regulate fluid volume and electrolyte balance

Water Balance

• Water is gained through:
  • Drinking fluids
  • Consuming food that contains water
  • Metabolic processes that produce water as a byproduct of food metabolism

Water Loss

• Water is lost through:
  • Urination
  • Defecation
  • Exhalation through the respiratory tract
  • Sweat through the skin
  • Vomiting and diarrhea

Regulation of Water Balance

• The body regulates fluid volume to maintain homeostasis by matching daily fluid inputs and outputs
• Key components of this regulation include:
  • Receptors that detect changes in body fluid
  • Hormones that help regulate fluid balance
  • The hypothalamus in the brain, which plays a crucial role in regulating fluid balance
  • The kidneys, which help regulate fluid volume and electrolyte balance

Water Acquisition and Loss

• Water is gained through drinking fluids, food, and metabolism of food
• The body produces water during food metabolism

Methods of Water Loss

• Urination
• Defecation
• Respiratory tract (breathing) and skin (sweat) losses
• Vomiting and diarrhea

Regulation of Body Fluids

• The body maintains homeostasis by regulating fluid inputs and outputs
• Key components of fluid regulation include:
  • Receptors detecting changes in body fluid
  • Hormones
  • Hypothalamus in the brain
  • Kidneys

Disease Impacts on Fluid Regulation

• Disease processes can interfere with drinking and eating, or increase fluid losses
• Examples: vomiting, diarrhea, excessive urination
• Severe dehydration can be life-threatening
• Disruption of electrolyte balance can have serious consequences

Water Acquisition and Loss

• Water is gained through drinking fluids, food, and metabolism of food
• The body produces water during food metabolism

Methods of Water Loss

• Urination
• Defecation
• Respiratory tract (breathing) and skin (sweat) losses
• Vomiting and diarrhea

Regulation of Body Fluids

• The body maintains homeostasis by regulating fluid inputs and outputs
• Key components of fluid regulation include:
  • Receptors detecting changes in body fluid
  • Hormones
  • Hypothalamus in the brain
  • Kidneys

Disease Impacts on Fluid Regulation

• Disease processes can interfere with drinking and eating, or increase fluid losses
• Examples: vomiting, diarrhea, excessive urination
• Severe dehydration can be life-threatening
• Disruption of electrolyte balance can have serious consequences