Question

1. Describe the following in your own words: intracellular fluid, extracellular fluid - including the 2 components of extracellular fluid, dehydration, and electrolytes.

2. Describe the difference between osmosis, diffusion, and filtration.

3. Define hypovolemia and hypervolemia.

Answer 1

1. Describe the following in your own words: intracellular fluid, extracellular fluid - including the 2 components of extracellular fluid, dehydration, and electrolytes.

Intracellular fluid:

Intracellular fluid is found inside the cell. The separate compartments formed inside the cell is known as organelles. Intracellular fluid occupies the two-thirds of the body fluid and is found in skeletal muscle mass. The cytosol present inside the cell consists of about 70% of water. It has a higher concentration of potassium and magnesium and lower concentration of sodium, calcium, and chloride ions compared to the external environment. The proteins are mostly dissolved in the cytosol.

Extracellular Fluid:

ECF is found outside the cell. The ECF compartment is divided into intravascular, interstitial, and transcellular fluid space. Intravascular space is the fluid present within the vessel. It consists of plasma, erythrocytes, leukocytes, and thrombocytes. Interstitial space is the fluid present around the cell and consist of lymph. The transcellular is the smallest part of the ECF and consists of cerebrospinal fluid, pericardial, pleural, and spinal fluids. ECF has a high concentration of sodium and low concentration of potassium.

Electrolytes:

Electrolyte present in the body fluids is of cations(positive charge), anions(negative charge). The electrolytes such as sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, and hydrogen ions carry a positive charge. Phosphate, chloride, bicarbonate, proteinate, and sulfate will carry a negative charge. It is expressed in mEq/L. Sodium is important in maintaining the overall volume of the body fluid.

2. Describe the difference between osmosis, diffusion, and filtration.

Osmosis	Diffusion	Filtration
It is the movement of solvent particles from a dilute solution to concentrated solution through a semipermeable membrane.	Movement of a substance from the area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration.	The water and solutes move from an area of higher hydrostatic pressure to an area of lower hydrostatic pressure.
It depends on the number of particles dissolved in the solution.	It depends on the random movement of molecules and ions.	It depends on the hydrostatic pressure which tends to move out of the vascular compartment into the interstitial fluid.
It is a slow process	It is a fast process	-
Ex: The excretion of glucose into the urine due to osmotic diuresis.	Ex: Movement of sodium from ECF to ICF where the concentration is low.	Passing of electrolyte from arterial capillary bed to interstitial space.

3.  Define hypovolemia and hypervolemia.

Hypovolemia	Hypervolemia
Loss of extracellular fluid exceeds the intake of fluid.	Fluid overload in the ECF.
Water and electrolytes are lost in the same proportion	water and sodium retention in the same proportion.
Factors contributing to hypovolemia include decreased fluid intake, diarrhea, vomiting, GI abnormalities, and adrenal insufficiency.	factors include heart failure, renal failure, and administration of sodium containing fluid.
Signs and symptoms include skin turgor, weight loss, hypotension, flattened neck vein, decreased CVP.	Signs and symptoms include edema, crackles in lungs and distended neck vein.
decreased urine sodium and increased BUN and creatinine level	Decreased urine sodium and specific gravity.
Encourage to intake of water and IV infusion and correction of electrolytes.	Treat the underlying cause, sodium restriction, and administration of diuretics.