Distribution of Body Fluids and Electrolyte Balance

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers the distribution of body fluids, electrolyte imbalances, and acid-base disturbances based on the lecture notes.

Intracellular fluid (ICF)

The cytosol within the cell.

Extracellular fluid (ECF)

The fluid that surrounds the cells and serves as a circulating reservoir.

Total body water (TBW)

The sum of all fluids within the body, which varies with age and amount of body fat.

Osmosis

A process by which molecules of a solvent tend to pass through a semipermeable membrane from a less concentrated solution into a more concentrated one, equalizing the concentrations.

Starling law

The principle describing net filtration as forces favoring filtration minus forces opposing filtration.

Edema

A problem of fluid distribution that results in the accumulation of fluid within the interstitial spaces.

Aldosterone

A hormone that regulates sodium balance by increasing the reabsorption of sodium by the distal tubule of the kidney.

Atrial natriuretic hormone

A hormone involved in decreasing renal tubular resorption and promoting urinary excretion of sodium.

Antidiuretic hormone (ADH)

A hormone that regulates water balance, initiated by an increase in plasma osmolality or a decrease in circulating blood volume.

Isotonic solution

A solution that has the same solute concentration as another solution, resulting in no net movement of water particles.

Hypertonic solution

A solution that has a higher solute concentration than another solution, causing water particles to move out of the cell and leading to crenation.

Hypotonic solution

A solution that has a lower solute concentration than another solution, causing water particles to move into the cell, making it expand and eventually lyse.

Hypernatremia

A condition where sodium levels are $>145\,mEq/L$, often caused by an acute increase in sodium or a loss of water.

Hyperchloremia

A condition characterized by a high level of chloride in the blood, caused by an excess of sodium or a deficit of bicarbonate.

Hyponatremia

A condition where serum sodium concentration decreases to less than $135\,mEq/L$.

Hypochloremia

A condition usually resulting from hyponatremia or elevated bicarbonate concentrations.

Hypokalemia

A serum potassium concentration $<3.5\,mEq/L$, indicating a loss of total body potassium.

Hyperkalemia

A condition where potassium levels are $>5.0\,mEq/L$.

Hypocalcemia

A total serum calcium concentration less than $9.0\,mg/dL$, related to inadequate intestinal absorption or decreased PTH and vitamin D levels.

Hypercalcemia

A serum calcium concentration greater than $10.5\,mg/dL$, which can be caused by hyperparathyroidism or bone metastases.

Hypophosphatemia

A serum phosphate level less than $2.0\,mg/dL$, usually caused by intestinal malabsorption or increased renal excretion.

Hyperphosphatemia

A serum phosphate level more than $4.7\,mg/dL$, often developing with acute or chronic renal failure.

Hypomagnesemia

A serum magnesium concentration $<1.5\,mEq/L$, often caused by malabsorption syndromes.

Hypermagnesemia

A serum magnesium concentration $>3.0\,mEq/L$, which is rare and usually caused by renal failure.

Metabolic acidosis

A condition caused by an increase in the concentrations of non-carbonic acids or by loss of bicarbonate from the extracellular fluid.

Metabolic alkalosis

A condition occurring with an increase in bicarbonate concentration, usually caused by the loss of metabolic acids from conditions like vomiting.

Respiratory acidosis

A condition occurring with a decrease of alveolar ventilation and an increase in levels of carbon dioxide, or hypercapnia.

Respiratory alkalosis

A condition occurring with alveolar hyperventilation and excessive reduction of carbon dioxide concentration, or hypocapnia.