Fluids & Electrolytes

acid

substance containing a hydrogen ion that can be liberated or released

acidosis

condition characterized by a proportionate excess of hydrogen ions in the extracellular fluid, in which the pH falls below 7.35

active transport

movement of ions or molecules across cell membranes, usually against a pressure gradient and with the expenditure of metabolic energy

alkalosis

condition, characterized by a proportionate lack of hydrogen ions in the extracellular fluid concentration, in which the pH exceeds 7.45

anions

ion that carries a negative electric charge

antibody

immunoglobin produced by the body in response to a specific antigen

antigen

foreign material capable of inducing a specific immune response

autologous transfusion

occurs when a patient donates ones own blood for a transfusion

base

substance that can accept or trap a hydrogen ion; synonym for alkali

blood typing

the laboratory examination to determine a persons blood type

buffer

substance that prevents body fluid from becoming overly acid or alkaline

capillary filtration

passage of fluid across the wall of the capillary; results from the force of blood "pushing" against the walls of the capillaries

cation

ion that carries a positive electric charge

colloid osmotic pressure

pressure exerted by plasma proteins on permeable membranes in the body; synonym for oncotic pressure

cross-matching

act of determining the compatibility of two blood specimens

dehydration

decreased water volume in body tissue

diffusion

tendency of solutes to move freely throughout a solvent from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration until equilibrium is established

edema

accumulation of fluid in extracellular spaces

electrolytes

substance capable of breaking into ions and developing an electric charge when dissolved in solution

extracellular fluid (ECF)

fluid outside the cells; includes intravascular and interstitial fluids

hydrostatic pressure

force exerted by a fluid against the container wall

hypercalcemia

excess of calcium in the extracellular fluid

hyperkalemia

excess of potassium in the extracellular fluid

hypermagnesemia

excess of magnesium in the extracellular fluid

hypernatremia

excess of sodium in the extracellular fluid

hyperphosphatemia

above-normal serum concentration of inorganic phosphorus

hypertonic

having a greater concentration than the solution with which it is being compared

hypervolemia

excess of plasma

hypocalcemia

insufficient amount of calcium in the extracellular fluid

hypokalemia

insufficient amount of potassium in the extracellular fluid

hypomagnesemia

insufficient amount of magnesium in the extracellular fluid

hyponatremia

insufficient amount of sodium in the extracellular fluid

hypophosphatemia

below-normal serum concentration of inorganic phosphorus

hypotonic

having a lesser concentration than the solution with which it is being compared

hypovolemia

deficiency of blood plasma

intracellular fluid (ICF)

fluid within the cell; synonym for cellular fluid

ion

atom or molecule carrying an electric charge in solution

isotonic

having about the same concentration as the solution with which it is being compared

osmolarity

concentration of particles in a solution, or a solutions pulling power

osmosis

passage of a solvent through a semipermeable membrane from an area of lesser concentration to an area of greater concentration until equilibrium is established

pH

expression of hydrogen ion concentration and resulting acidity of a substance

solutes

substance dissolved in a solution

solvents

liquid holding a substance in solution