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 one’s 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 person’s 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

hyperchloremia:

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

hypochloremia:

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 solution’s 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