Human Body Fluid Balance and Electrolytes

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Questions and Answers

What percentage of the human body is approximately composed of water?

80%

50%

70%

60% (correct)

Which factors are crucial for maintaining the distribution of water throughout the body?

Oxygen levels and body temperature

Nutrient supply and moisture levels

Electrolyte concentrations and pressure gradients (correct)

Hormonal regulation and blood viscosity

What primarily regulates water filtration across membranes in the body?

Electrolyte discharge

Concentration of nutrients

Hydrostatic pressure gradients (correct)

Temperature differences

Which of the following statements is true regarding human blood?

Blood is mixed with more than 80% water. Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of pressure gradients in body fluid distribution?

They influence filtration from high to low pressure areas. Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of total body water is found in the intracellular fluid compartment?

67% Signup and view all the answers

How is the extracellular fluid compartment subdivided?

Into intravascular and extravascular compartments Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of electrolytes in the body?

Regulating water distribution and osmotic pressure Signup and view all the answers

Which fluid compartment contains approximately 95% of the extravascular fluid?

Interstitial fluid Signup and view all the answers

What methods are involved in maintaining fluid balance in the body?

Ingesting food and drink while excreting waste Signup and view all the answers

What is one consequence of electrolyte imbalance?

Life-threatening situations Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following cations is a key electrolyte in the body?

Sodium (Na+) Signup and view all the answers

What is involved in the regulation of dehydration?

Thirst mechanism and hormone regulation Signup and view all the answers

What condition is characterized by increased levels of sodium in the body?

Hypernatremia Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following can lead to hyponatremia?

Prolonged vomiting Signup and view all the answers

What type of ISE is suitable for undiluted samples?

Direct ISE Signup and view all the answers

Which of these errors can occur with indirect ISE reading?

High lipid or protein content Signup and view all the answers

Which fluid imbalance can occur as a result of excessive urination?

Dehydration Signup and view all the answers

Which specimen type is NOT typically used for sodium measurement?

Bone marrow Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes an isotonic solution?

No net movement of water across the membrane Signup and view all the answers

What is created by the presence of ions inside and outside of a cell?

Osmotic pressure Signup and view all the answers

Which electrolyte is primarily high in intracellular fluid?

Potassium Signup and view all the answers

What can happen when extracellular fluid becomes hypertonic?

Water moves from intra to extracellular space Signup and view all the answers

How can osmotic pressure be practically measured?

In serum or plasma Signup and view all the answers

What causes fluid imbalance in the body?

Imbalanced electrolytes Signup and view all the answers

What defines a hypotonic solution?

Lower solute concentration compared to cytosol Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of determining the anion gap?

To examine electrolyte balance and acid-base status Signup and view all the answers

What does a high anion gap typically indicate?

Kidney disease or ketoacidosis Signup and view all the answers

Which electrolyte has its normal range defined as 136-145 meq/L?

Sodium Signup and view all the answers

What is the normal anion gap range in mEq/L?

4 to 12 Signup and view all the answers

Which hormone is responsible for the reabsorption of sodium in the kidneys?

Aldosterone Signup and view all the answers

What represents a common cause of decreased anion gap?

Instrument error Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of sodium in the body?

Facilitate muscle contractions Signup and view all the answers

Which electrolyte is primarily involved in maintaining blood viscosity?

Sodium Signup and view all the answers

What might a low anion gap indicate if true?

Hypoalbuminemia due to severe diseases Signup and view all the answers

Which factor can lead to the temporary increase in extracellular fluid volume?

Absorption of sodium Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Body Fluid Compartments

The human body is approximately 60% water.
67% of total body water is intracellular (ICF), while 33% is extracellular (ECF).
ECF is further divided into intravascular (25%, blood vessels & lymph) and extravascular (75%) compartments.
Extravascular compartment includes interstitial fluid (95%) and transcellular fluid (5%).

Fluid Balance

Maintaining water balance requires equal rates of water intake and loss.
Intake includes eating and drinking, while excretion occurs through urine, feces, sweat, and respiration.
Dehydration arises from excessive water loss or inadequate intake.
Regulation of fluid balance involves thirst mechanism, electrolyte gradients, antidiuretic hormones, and renal excretion/reabsorption.

Electrolytes

Electrolytes are charged atoms or molecules (ions) that regulate various bodily functions.
These functions include water distribution, osmotic pressure, nerve transmission, cell permeability, oxidation-reduction reactions, and blood pH maintenance.
Cation electrolytes include sodium (Na+) and potassium (K+).
Anion electrolytes include chloride (Cl-) and bicarbonate (HCO3-).

Electrolyte Imbalances

Electrolyte imbalances can be life-threatening.
Causes include vomiting, excessive urination, sweating, diarrhea, bleeding, and exudation from burns or injuries.

Electrolyte Compartmentalization

Each body fluid compartment contains specific electrolyte concentrations.
Plasma and interstitial fluid are rich in sodium, chloride, and bicarbonate.
Intracellular fluid is high in potassium.

Osmosis

Osmosis is the diffusion of solvent molecules across a semipermeable membrane from a higher to a lower concentration.
Osmotic pressure results from the force exerted by solute particles across the membrane.
Higher solute concentration leads to increased osmotic pressure.
Water movement between intracellular and extracellular compartments depends on osmotic pressure.

Anion Gap

The anion gap is a mathematical calculation used to assess electrolyte balance and acid-base status.
It estimates the difference between measured cations (Na+ and K+) and anions (Cl- and HCO3-).
A normal anion gap ranges from 4 to 12 mEq/L.

Sodium (Na+)

Sodium accounts for 90% of plasma cations.
It enters the body through various sources (e.g., salt).
Sodium absorption temporarily increases extracellular fluid volume.
Sodium levels are tightly regulated within a narrow range (136-145 mEq/L).
The Na+/K+ pump helps exchange sodium for potassium across cell membranes, maintaining a gradient.

Sodium Regulation

Aldosterone, a hormone secreted by the adrenal gland, promotes sodium resorption and exchange with potassium.
Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) is a heart hormone that increases sodium excretion and lowers blood pressure.

Sodium Functions

Sodium plays a vital role in nerve impulse transmission, maintaining extracellular fluid osmotic pressure, facilitating muscle contractions, and maintaining acid-base balance and blood viscosity.

Sodium Imbalances

Hyponatremia (low sodium) is more common and may be caused by low sodium intake, diarrhea, vomiting, excessive sweating, or renal disease.
Hypernatremia (high sodium) is less frequent and can occur due to severe dehydration, Cushing Syndrome, inappropriate saline therapy, or high sodium intake with limited water consumption.

Sodium Lab Procedures

Sodium levels are typically measured using ion-selective electrodes (ISEs).
Direct ISEs are utilized in undiluted samples, while indirect ISEs use diluted samples.
Specimen types for sodium measurement include serum, lithium heparinized plasma, whole blood, sweat, urine, feces, and gastrointestinal fluids.
Errors in measurement can arise from high lipid or protein content in indirect ISEs, electrode protein coating, and competing ions.

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Description

Explore the crucial concepts of body fluid compartments, fluid balance, and the role of electrolytes in human physiology. This quiz covers the distribution of body water, mechanisms of hydration, and the importance of ions in bodily functions. Test your knowledge on how the human body maintains homeostasis through its fluid management.