Fluid and Electrolyte Balance in Nursing

These flashcards cover vocabulary essential to understanding fluid and electrolyte balance in nursing.

Acidosis

A condition in which there is an excess of acid in the body fluids.

Alkalosis

A condition in which there is an excess of base (alkali) in the body fluids.

Anion Gap

The difference between measured cations and anions in serum, useful for determining the cause of metabolic acidosis.

Baroreceptors

Sensory receptors that detect pressure changes in the blood vessels.

Chvostek Sign

A clinical sign of neuromuscular excitability associated with low calcium levels.

Hemoconcentration

Increased concentration of cells and solids in the blood due to decrease in plasma volume.

Hemodilution

Dilution of blood cells due to an increase in plasma volume.

Hypervolemia

An increase in the volume of blood plasma in the body.

Hypovolemia

A decrease in the volume of blood plasma.

Osmosis

The movement of water through a semipermeable membrane from a less concentrated solution to a more concentrated one.

Third-spacing

The abnormal accumulation of fluid in a body cavity, leading to a deficit in circulatory volume.

Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System

A hormone system that regulates blood pressure and fluid balance.

Passive Diffusion

The movement of substances across a membrane without the need for energy, moving from an area of higher concentration to lower.

Facilitated Diffusion

The process of spontaneous passive transport of molecules or ions across a biological membrane via specific transmembrane integral proteins.

Electrolytes

Minerals in the body that carry an electric charge, essential for many bodily functions.

Intracellular Fluid

Fluid located inside the cells.

Extracellular Fluid

Fluid located outside of the cells, including interstitial fluid and plasma.