Serous Fluid PDF
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This document provides information about serous fluid, including its key locations (pleural, peritoneal, pericardial), its function as a lubricant, and the causes of its increase in volume, as well as various tests to determine its contents. This information is useful for medical students and professionals.
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SEROUS FLUID Key location: 1. Pleural 2. Peritoneal 3. Pericardial Parietal membrane: lines the cavity wall Visceral membrane: covers the organs within the cavity -Acts as a lubricant to reduce friction between organs and their surrounding structures -lubrication is necessary to preve...
SEROUS FLUID Key location: 1. Pleural 2. Peritoneal 3. Pericardial Parietal membrane: lines the cavity wall Visceral membrane: covers the organs within the cavity -Acts as a lubricant to reduce friction between organs and their surrounding structures -lubrication is necessary to prevent the 2 membranes that occurs as of movement of the enclosed organs Normal amounts of fluids in low volumes are maintained in all body cavities. When these fluids increase in volume, it is usually a result of inflammation, infection, or mechanical failure of a movable part, such as a joint or other location where friction occurs Serous fluids are formed as ultrafiltrates of plasma. Oncotic Pressure: Movement of fluid back into the capillary Hydrostatic Pressure: Forces fluid out of the capillary. EFFUSION Disruption of the mechanisms of formation and reabsorption of serous fluid causes an increase in fluid between the membranes. PRIMARY CAUSES OF EFFUSIONS Increased hydrostatic pressure (congestive heart failure), Decreased oncotic pressure (hypoproteinemia), Increased capillary permeability (inflammation and infection) Lymphatic obstruction (tumors) TRANSUDATE VS EXUDATE Characteristics Transudate Exudate General result Increased hydrostatic Inflammation (may be pressure; low colloid infectious) changes osmotic pressure in capillary permeability resulting from acute inflammatory reaction Physical Clear or pale yellow Variety of colors ranging from appearance yellow, greenish, and reddish (bloody) Transudate Exudate White blood cells 1000/mL Red blood cells Undetectable unless Extremely elevated, traumatic aspiration particularly when occurs resulting from a malignancy Glucose Correlates with plasma Lower than that found in level plasma, especially in infectious processes and if high cell counts are present transudate Exudate Total protein
