Fluid, Electrolyte, and Acid-Base Balance Flashcards

This set contains vocabulary terms and definitions regarding fluid compartments, electrolyte functions, transport mechanisms, imbalances, and assessment parameters based on the lecture material.

Intracellular fluid (ICF)

Fluid within cells which comprises $70\%$ of total body water, with major electrolytes being potassium, phosphorus, and magnesium.

Extracellular fluid (ECF)

Fluid outside cells comprising $30\%$ of total body water, including intravascular and interstitial fluids with major electrolytes like sodium, chloride, calcium, and bicarbonate.

Sodium ($Na^+$)

The major electrolyte of the ECF that controls and regulates the volume of body fluids; normal levels are $135-145\,mEq/L$.

Potassium ($K^+$)

The chief regulator of cellular enzyme activity and water content, also vital for electrical impulses in the nerve and heart; normal levels are $3.0-5.0\,mEq/L$.

Calcium

Electrolyte essential for nerve impulses, blood clotting, muscle contraction, and $\text{B}_{12}$ absorption; normal serum levels are $8.6-10.2\,mg/dL$.

Osmosis

The process where water passes from an area of lesser solute concentration to an area of greater concentration until equilibrium is established.

Diffusion

The tendency of solutes to move freely throughout a solvent from an area of higher concentration to lower concentration ("downhill").

Active transport

A process requiring energy for the movement of substances through the cell membrane from a lesser solute concentration to a higher solute concentration.

Capillary filtration

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

Isotonic solution

A solution with the same concentration of particles as plasma, such as $0.9\%$ Normal saline or Lactated Ringer's, used to replace ECF.

Hypertonic solution

A solution with a greater concentration of particles than plasma, such as $3\%$ Normal Saline or $5\%$ dextrose in Normal saline.

Hypotonic solution

A solution with a lesser concentration of particles than plasma, such as $0.33\%$ NS or $0.45\%$ NS, used to replace ICF.

Hypovolemia

A deficiency in the amount of water and electrolytes in the ECF with near-normal proportions of water and electrolytes.

Third-space fluid shift

A distributional shift of body fluids into potential body spaces.

Hypernatremia

A condition where sodium levels are $> 147\,mEq/L$, often resulting in neurologic impairment, restlessness, disorientation, and hallucinations.

Hyponatremia

A sodium deficiency or free water excess characterized by lethargy, confusion, and a urine specific gravity below $1.010$.

Hypokalemia

A potassium deficit that may cause fatigue, muscle weakness, and cardiac arrhythmias such as ST depression.

Hyperkalemia

An elevated potassium level that can cause skeletal muscle paralysis and cardiac irregularities such as peaked T waves or prolonged QRS complexes.

Kayexalate

A medication used as a treatment for hyperkalemia to help lower potassium levels.

Trousseau and Chvostek signs

Clinical physical assessment signs used to identify the presence of hypocalcemia.

Hypercalcemia

A serum calcium level $\ge 17\,mg/dL$ is considered an emergency situation because it may result in cardiac arrest.

Respiratory acidosis

An acid-base imbalance characterized by a primary excess of carbonic acid in the ECF.

Metabolic acidosis

An acid-base imbalance characterized by a proportionate deficit of bicarbonate in the ECF.

$3+$ Pitting Edema

Edema characterized by a deep pit of $6\,mm$ that remains for several seconds after pressing, with skin swelling obvious by general inspection.

Brawny Edema

A type of edema where fluid can no longer be displaced due to excessive interstitial fluid accumulation, resulting in no pitting.

TRALI

An acronym for Transfusion-related acute lung injury, which is a type of blood transfusion reaction.