Fluid and Electrolytes

Question 1

List the functions of water

Answer 1

• Acts as a solvent allowing electrolytes to ionize
• Is a reagent in many chemical reactions
• Acts as a transport medium
• Is a lubricant

Question 2

What are the two major fluid compartments?

Answer 2

Intracellular and extracellular

Question 3

What is Intracellular fluid?

Answer 3

Intracellular fluid is water inside the cells (2/3 of the bodies fluid

Question 4

What is extracellular fluid?

Answer 4

Extracellular fluid is outside the cells

(1/3 of the bodies fluid

Question 5

What is the third fluid compartment?

Answer 5

Plasma is an extracellular compartment that is known as the third fluid compartment

Question 6

Examples of fluid input?

Answer 6

• Food and drink

Question 7

Examples of fluid output?

Answer 7

• Kidneys as urine
• Lung with expired air
• Skin diffusion and by sweat

Question 8

Why is the amount of water in the body important?

Answer 8

• Excess water in the body causes overhydration, and cells start to overfill
• Insufficient water in the body causes dehydration, and a drop in blood volume (and therefore a drop in blood pressure)

Question 9

Describe the movements of fluid?

Answer 9

• Water, other nutrients and waste products move from capillaries to interstitial spaces as a result of hydrostatic pressure- ‘Pushing’
• Water moves from the interstitial space into cells primarily as a result of osmosis- ‘Pulling’

Question 10

What protein plays a large role in the osmotic pull?

Answer 10

Albumin

Question 11

What is the difference between tonicity and osmolarity?

Answer 11

• Osmolarity is the total solute concentration in a
  solution
• Tonicity describes how the solution affects cells

Question 12

Describe isotonic

Answer 12

•Isotonic: solutes and water in fluid & cells are

equal

Question 13

Describe hypertonic

Answer 13

•Hypertonic: solutions have in too many solutes

and therefore greater water loss from cells

Question 14

Describe hypotonic

Answer 14

•Hypotonic: solutions have less solutes than cells

therefore water moves into the cells

Question 15

Where is sodium most prevalent?

Answer 15

Extracellular compartments

Question 16

Where is potassium most prevalent?

Answer 16

Intracellular compartments

Question 17

What are electrolytes?

Answer 17

A substance which forms

ions in a water solution

Question 18

What is the best way to regulate body water?

Answer 18

Adjusting the volume of water intake

Question 19

Where is increased osmolarity detected?

Answer 19

The thirst centre in the hypothalamus

Question 20

What does dehydration stimulate?

Answer 20

Dehydration stimulates the
production of aldosterone
via the (RAA) pathway

Question 21

Fluid balance is regulated by three key hormones what are these hormones?

Answer 21

• Atrial Natriuretic Peptide (ANP)
• Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH)
• Aldosterone

Question 22

What is Oedema?

Answer 22

Oedema is the abnormal accumulation of interstitial fluid