Fluid, Electrolyte, and Acid-Base Balance

These flashcards cover key vocabulary related to fluid, electrolyte, and acid-base balance, assisting in understanding essential concepts in physiology and nursing care.

Fluid

A substance that can flow and take the shape of its container, essential for bodily functions.

Electrolyte

Ions in solution that conduct electricity and are crucial for various bodily functions.

Intracellular Fluid (ICF)

Fluid within cells, accounting for about 70% of total body fluid.

Extracellular Fluid (ECF)

Fluid outside the cells, accounting for about 30% of total body fluid.

Osmosis

The movement of water through a semipermeable membrane from an area of lower solute concentration to higher until equilibrium is reached.

Diffusion

The process where solutes move freely throughout a solvent from areas of higher concentration to lower concentration.

Active Transport

The movement of substances across a cell membrane using energy, from an area of lower solute concentration to higher.

Filtration

The passage of fluid through a permeable membrane from an area of higher pressure to lower pressure.

Sodium

An electrolyte that controls and regulates the volume of body fluids.

Potassium

An electrolyte that is the chief regulator of cellular enzyme activity and water content.

Calcium

An electrolyte essential for nerve impulse transmission, blood clotting, and muscle contraction.

Magnesium

An electrolyte important in carbohydrate and protein metabolism and enzyme functions.

Chloride

An electrolyte that maintains osmotic pressure in blood and is involved in hydrochloric acid production.

Bicarbonate

The body’s primary buffer system controlling pH balance.

Phosphate

An electrolyte involved in chemical reactions, cell division, and hereditary traits.

Homeostasis

The body's ability to maintain stable internal conditions despite external changes.

Fluid Balance

The balance between fluid intake and loss, essential for homeostasis.

Hydration

The process of providing adequate fluid to maintain health and bodily functions.

Dehydration

A deficiency in body water that can affect normal bodily functions.

Edema

Excess fluid accumulation in tissues, causing swelling.

Hypervolemia

Excessive retention of water and sodium in the ECF.

Hypovolemia

A deficiency in the amount of water and electrolytes in the ECF.

Acid-Base Balance

The regulation of pH in the body fluids, primarily managed by buffer systems.

Buffer Systems

Mechanisms that help maintain pH levels in the body by neutralizing acids and bases.

Respiratory Acidosis

A condition characterized by an excess of carbonic acid in the ECF.

Respiratory Alkalosis

A condition with a deficit of carbonic acid in the ECF.

Metabolic Acidosis

A condition with a proportional deficit of bicarbonate in the ECF.

Metabolic Alkalosis

A condition marked by an excess of bicarbonate in the ECF.

Hypokalemia

A condition of low potassium levels in the blood.

Hyperkalemia

A condition of high potassium levels in the blood.

Hyponatremia

A condition due to a sodium deficit in ECF.

Hypernatremia

A condition due to an excess of sodium in ECF.

Assessment Parameters

Tools for evaluating fluid and electrolyte balance including nursing history and lab studies.

ADH (Antidiuretic Hormone)

A hormone that regulates water balance in the body.

IV Therapy

Administering fluids and medications through a vein to maintain fluid balance.

TPN (Total Parenteral Nutrition)

A method of feeding that bypasses the gastrointestinal tract, delivering nutrients directly into the bloodstream.

Nursing Diagnoses

Clinical judgments about individual, family, or community responses to actual or potential health problems.

Lab Studies

Tests to evaluate fluid and electrolyte imbalances, including serum electrolytes and blood urea nitrogen.

Fluid Intake Sources

Ingested liquids, food, and byproducts of metabolism that contribute to overall fluid intake.

Fluid Losses Sources

Routes through which the body loses fluids, including urine, feces, sweat, and insensible losses.

Capillary Filtration

The process of fluid passing through a capillary membrane based on pressure differences.