Electrolytes Flashcards
Electrolytes
Saltsthat dissociate in solution and will carry an electric current; clinically used to mean the mineral salts of blood plasma and other body fluids.
Common Electrolytes
Sodium, potassium, calcium,
magnesium , chloride, phosphorous
Electrolytes function
help regulate kidney function and the retention of water.
% of body weight that is water
Women: 45-50%
Men: 50 - 65%
Daily fluid and electrolyte requirements:
2-3L water
50-100 mmol sodium
40-80 mmol potassium
Daily fluid and electrolyte Requirements vary with
Age
Sex
Body fat content
Normal urine output
> 1400 ml/day
Water turnover
~ 5-10% in adults
3. 3L sedentary men 4. 5L active men
Water requirements vary depending on
Dietary factors Physical activity level Environmental conditions Metabolism Health status
UK Water intake recommendation
1.2L/ day for men & women
Disease risk of unsafe water/poor sanitation
3.7 % of global burden of disease
6th cause of death) (1. 73m death
Reduced availability of fresh water
783 million people lack access to drinking water.
2 billion people lack adequate sanitation.
By 2050 more than half the world will face water shortages
Functions of water in the body
Maintaining cell structure
~ Forming a solvent within which chemical reactions in the body can take place
~ Physically transporting other nutrients and oxygen through the body via the bloodstream
~ Transporting white blood cells to fight infection via the lymphatic system
~ Enabling the body to get rid of waste products via the excretory systems, such as through the formation of urine.
~ Lubricants – synovial fluid in joints
~ Temperature regulation - sweating
Distribution of body water
Total body water 45L
Extracellular fluid (outside cell) 15L Blood or intravascular fluid 3L Intracellular fluid (inside cell) 30L
Intercellular, interstitial or extravascular fluid 12L –>
–> Carries nutrients to the cells/ Collects waste products/ Changing water content
Intracellular and extracellular electrolytes
extracellular: Na+ , Cl-, Ca++, HCO3-
Intracellular: K+, Mg++, PO4 ^3- , [protein]
Body water gains
Food and drink
Metabolic water, by-product from oxidation of carbohydrates, protein and fats:
- 1g of carbohydrate produces 0.60g water
- 1g of protein produces 0.41g water
- 1g of fat produces 1.07g water
Body water losses
Insensible water loss:
- Transepidermal water loss i.e lost through the skin and lungs
- Skin – occurs independently of sweating (350 ml/day)
- Lungs - Expired air saturated with water vapour (350 - 650 ml/d)
Water loss in sweat :
Perspiration: 100 – 5000 ml/day
Hot climates: 500-2500ml per hour
Water loss in urine:
Highly controlled by the kidneys ( 500-1400 ml/day)
Water loss in faeces (100 ml/day)
Regulation of fluid balance
slide 14
Anti-diuretic hormone (ADH)
- Secreted by the hypothalamus
- Causes the insertion of water channels into the membranes of cells lining the kidney collecting ducts, allowing water re-absorption to occur
- Without ADH, little water is reabsorbed in the kidney collecting ducts and dilute urine is excreted
Anti-diuretic hormone (ADH) Secretion influenced by:
Receptors in the hypothalamus that are sensitive to increasing plasma osmolarity .
–> Increase ADH secretion
Stretch receptors in the atria of the heart - activated by a larger than normal volume of blood returning to the heart from the veins.
–> increase ADH secretion
Stretch receptors in the aorta and carotid arteries, which are stimulated when blood pressure falls.
–> decrease ADH secretion
Abnormal water states
Hypotonic –> Water enters the cell; Cell expands and may finally burst.
hypertonic –> Water moves out of the cell. Cells shrink (crenation).
Isotonic - balanced
Increased extracellular volume
Peripheral oedema:
Expansion of the extracellular volume by at least 2 L
Hyponatremia: cell swelling
Cause of peripheral oedema:
Renal Sodium chloride retention
Heart failure
Hepatic cirrhosis
Nephrotic syndrome
Cause of hyponatremia
# Loss of sodium from the extracellular fluid # Addition of excess fluid to the extracellular fluid
The brain can’t increase its volume more than ~ 10% without causing brain injury and death.