Fluid, Electrolytes, IV Therapy, and Acid-Base Balance Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms, definitions, clinical signs, and laboratory values from lecture notes on fluid and electrolyte imbalances, IV solution classifications, and acid-base interpretation.

Intracellular Fluid (ICF)

Fluid located inside the body's cells, accounting for approximately two-thirds of total body fluid.

Extracellular Fluid (ECF)

Fluid located outside the cells, composed of interstitial fluid, intravascular fluid (plasma), and transcellular fluid.

Interstitial Fluid

A component of extracellular fluid located specifically in the spaces surrounding tissue cells.

Intravascular Fluid

The liquid component of blood contained within blood vessels (arteries and veins), commonly referred to as plasma.

Osmosis

The process by which water moves across a selectively permeable membrane from an area of lower solute concentration to an area of higher solute concentration.

Osmotic Pressure

The power or capacity of a solution to draw water across a semipermeable cell membrane.

Isotonic Solution

An intravenous fluid with the same osmolality as normal plasma that causes no net fluid shift across semipermeable membranes.

Hypotonic Solution

An intravenous solution with a lower osmolality than normal plasma, causing water to move out of the vascular space and into the cells.

Hypertonic Solution

An intravenous fluid with a higher osmolality than normal plasma, drawing water out of the cells and into the vascular compartment.

Isotonic Dehydration

The most common form of dehydration, characterized by equal losses of fluids and electrolytes.

Hypertonic Dehydration

A form of dehydration where extracellular fluid water loss exceeds solute loss, resulting in elevated osmolality.

Hypotonic Dehydration

An uncommon form of dehydration where electrolyte loss (primarily sodium) exceeds water loss.

Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH)

A hormone produced by the hypothalamus and released by the posterior pituitary gland that promotes water reabsorption in the renal distal tubules.

Aldosterone

A mineralocorticoid hormone secreted by the adrenal cortex that acts on the kidneys to conserve sodium and water while excreting potassium.

Third Spacing

The shift of fluid from the vascular compartment into body spaces (such as the peritoneal cavity in ascites) where it cannot participate in normal circulation.

Diabetes Insipidus (DI)

A condition caused by ADH deficiency or renal unresponsiveness to ADH, marked by extreme thirst and high volumes ($12 - 20\,\text{L/day}$) of dilute urine.

Syndrome of Inappropriate Antidiuretic Hormone (SIADH)

A disorder involving excessive ADH secretion that causes water retention, dilutional hyponatremia, and low serum osmolality.

Chvostek's Sign

A clinical indicator of hypocalcemia demonstrated by involuntary facial muscle twitching when tapping over the facial nerve.

Trousseau's Sign

A sign of hypocalcemia where carpal spasm is induced by inflating a blood pressure cuff above systolic pressure for 3 minutes.

Hypocalcemia ECG Pattern

Electrocardiogram changes caused by serum calcium levels below $8.5\,\text{mg/dL}$, characterized by a prolonged ST segment.

Hypercalcemia ECG Pattern

Electrocardiogram changes caused by serum calcium levels above $10.0\,\text{mg/dL}$, featuring a shortened QT interval and depressed ST segment.

Torsades de Pointes

A form of polymorphic ventricular tachycardia linked to hypomagnesemia and treated with intravenous magnesium sulfate.

Hypokalemia ECG Changes

Electrocardiographic findings resulting from serum potassium below $3.5\,\text{mEq/L}$, including flattened or inverted T waves, depressed ST segments, and U waves.

Hyperkalemia ECG Changes

Electrocardiographic findings resulting from serum potassium above $5.0\,\text{mEq/L}$, including tall peaked T waves, prolonged PR intervals, widened QRS complexes, and absent P waves.

Pseudohyperkalemia

A false elevation in laboratory serum potassium reading resulting from blood sample hemolysis during or after venipuncture.

Sodium-Potassium Pump

An active transport mechanism that maintains cellular concentrations by moving three $\text{Na}^+$ ions out of the cell for every two $\text{K}^+$ ions moved in.

Bicarbonate-Carbonic Acid Buffer System

The body's principal extracellular chemical buffer system maintaining a constant ratio of $1$ carbonic acid molecule ($\text{H}_2\text{CO}_3$) to $20$ bicarbonate ions ($\text{HCO}_3^-$).

ROME Mnemonic

A memory tool for arterial blood gas analysis representing Respiratory Opposite (pH and PaCO2 shift in opposite directions) and Metabolic Equal (pH and HCO3 shift in the same direction).

Anion Gap

A calculated diagnostic value ($\text{Na}^+ - (\text{Cl}^- + \text{HCO}_3^-)$) with a normal range of $8 - 12\,\text{mEq/L}$ used to evaluate causes of metabolic acidosis.

Normal Serum Electrolyte Ranges

Standard reference blood values: Sodium $135 - 145\,\text{mEq/L}$, Potassium $3.5 - 5.0\,\text{mEq/L}$, Calcium $8.5 - 10.0\,\text{mg/dL}$, Magnesium $1.6 - 2.6\,\text{mEq/L}$, and Phosphate $2.5 - 4.5\,\text{mg/dL}$.

Normal ABG Reference Values

Standard blood gas measurements: pH $7.35 - 7.45$, PaCO2 $35 - 45\,\text{mmHg}$, HCO3 $22 - 26\,\text{mEq/L}$, and PaO2 $80 - 100\,\text{mmHg}$.