The importance of fluid balance and fluid compartments

What approximate percentage of the human body is water?

60%

What approximate percentage of a new born infant’s body weight is water?

75%

If an individual has more adipose tissue (fat), what happens to their body water percentage?

decreases

Define fluid balance.

 An aspect of homeostasis. The amount of water in the organism needs to be CONTROLLED AND KEPT WITHIN A HEALTHY RANGE.

What is the core principle of fluid balance

Amount of water lost from the body MUST EQUAL the amount of water taken in

State ways other medical ways in which a patient could loose fluid

Nasogastric tubes

diahorrea

Vomiting

Hyperthermia (increased sweating)

Unable to drink their self

unconscious or confusion

diabetes

over use of diuretics

wound drains

chest drains

incomplete fluid balance charts

What colour is healthy urine

similar to champagne, light, clear, slight yellow tint.w

what are 5 ways in which you can physically examine a patient for dehydration?

Does the patient feel tired or thirsty

tachycardia (increased heart rate)

capillary refill assessment (press for 5 seconds, refill in less than 2)

Dry mouth, lips, eyes, tounge

last urination?

What are ways in which people may have water loss in day to day life (5)

Lungs/expiration

skin

sweat

faeces

urine

State 3 ways in which people gain water in day to day life

Food

fluids

Oxidation of hydrogen in food

What is an electrolyte

a mineral that carries an electric charge when dissolved in body fluids such as blood

State 3 functions of electrolytes in the body and what ions are involved

Conduction of electrical impulses in nerve and muscle function (potassium, magnesium, and calcium)

Exerting osmotic pressure to keep body fluids within compartments (sodium and chloride)

Acid-balance- acting as buffers to PH changes (bicarbonate, chloride and phosphate)

define intracellular fluid, an example and what portion of total body fluid this makes up.

fluid of the body that sits within cells of the body

cytosol of the cells

two thirds

define extracellular, an example and what portion of the total body fluid this makes up.

fluid outside body cells

plasma (intravascular fluid) and interstital spaces

one third

define interstitial fluid

fluid between blood vessel and cells

what is the function of interstitial fluid?

creates microenvironment that allows for the movement of ions, protein and nutrients across the cell barrier.

Define Intravascular fluid and give an example

Blood

fluid within the vascular system

What does plasma consist of? (%s)

90% water

8% protein

0.9% electrolytes (inorganic)

1.1% glucose (organic)

what is the approx. total volume of adult blood

4-5 litres

what is osmotic pressure?

force created when two solutions of different concentrations are separated by a partially-permeable membrane

Define osmosis

The net movement of water from an area of low solute concentration, to an area of high solute concentration, along a concentration gradient to reach equilibrium.

define filtration

process where fluid and solutes move together from and area of high pressure to one of lower pressure