Hydration and Electrolytes: Study Notes

25 vocabulary flashcards based on the lecture notes about hydration and electrolytes, covering key terms and definitions.

Water Body Composition

The percentage of water that constitutes a significant portion of the human body, approximately 60% in adults.

Functions of Water

The numerous vital physiological processes that water supports, including being a main component of cells, aiding digestion, oxygen delivery, and temperature regulation.

Osmoregulation

Regulation of water inside and outside cells to equalize solute concentrations, involving water movement across membranes.

Hydration

The process of replacing lost body fluids, such as those lost through sweating, exhaling, and waste elimination.

Fluid Balance

An essential state for health, regulated by hormones, where the ideal intake and output of fluids achieve a 1:1 ratio.

Dehydration

A condition characterized by a lack of body hydration, where thirst is often a late sign.

Overhydration (Water Intoxication)

A condition resulting from excessive water intake beyond the kidneys' ability to excrete it, more likely with kidney damage.

Electrolytes

Electrically charged minerals that maintain homeostasis and hydration, regulated by kidneys and hormones.

Sodium (Na+)

A major electrolyte vital for muscle movement, nerve impulses, and blood pressure regulation.

Potassium (K+)

A major electrolyte crucial for healthy blood pH, nerve impulses, muscle contraction, and heartbeat regulation.

Chloride (Cl-)

A major electrolyte that aids in fluid balance (intracellular and extracellular) and digestion.

Calcium

An important mineral required for bone and teeth formation, blood pressure regulation, blood clotting, and nerve transmission.

Phosphorus

An important mineral involved in energy transfer (RNA/DNA), acid-base balance, and bone and teeth formation.

Magnesium

An important mineral necessary for bone formation, enzyme catalysis, nerve and muscle function, and smooth muscle relaxation.

Iron (Trace)

A trace mineral essential for oxygen distribution through hemoglobin and myoglobin.

Edema

Swelling caused by fluid trapped in body tissues.

Homeostasis

The ability of the body to maintain a stable internal environment despite changes in external conditions.

Tetany

A condition marked by muscle spasms, caused by a deficiency of calcium.

Dysrhythmias

An abnormal heart rhythm.

Vertigo

A sensation of dizziness.

Water Loss

The process by which water is eliminated from the body, primarily through kidneys (urine), skin (sweat), lungs (exhalation), and feces.

Physiological Processes

The numerous vital functions that water supports within the human body, such as digestion, oxygen delivery, and temperature regulation.

Thirst

A sensation that often serves as a late sign indicating a lack of body hydration.

Solute Concentrations

The amount of dissolved substances in a solution, which osmoregulation aims to equalize across cell membranes.

Hormone and Neurotransmitter Production

A vital function of water in the body, supporting the creation of chemical messengers essential for communication within the bodily systems.