Question

1. Discuss the functional fluid compartments of the body including the methods in which water moves between plasma and interstitial fluid.
2. Discuss the role of hydrostatic pressure, osmotic pressure, and oncotic pressure.
3. Differentiate between osmolality and osmolarity.
4. Explain Starling's Law of Capillary Forces.
5. Differentiate between intracellular fluids and extracellular fluids.
6. Discuss causes of volume imbalances.
7. Describe the assessment, expected findings, laboratory tests, patient-centered care, and complications of fluid volume deficits.
8. Describe the assessment, expected findings, laboratory tests, patient-centered care, and complications of fluid volume excesses.
9. Discuss the regulatory processes for sodium and water balance in the body, including the role of antidiuretic hormone, renin-angiotensin and aldosterone, and atrial natriuretic hormone.
10. Discuss fluid homeostasis.
11. Describe the causation, pathophysiologic process, and clinical manifestations of edema.
12. Define hypotonic, isotonic, and hypertonic alterations in water balance and give an example of each.
13. Identify normal and abnormal electrolyte values in the human body. (CG 1)
14. Determine the basic causes of electrolyte imbalances. (CG 1)
15. Describe the pathophysiology, signs and symptoms, physical assessment findings, diagnostic testing, and treatment of electrolyte imbalances.
16. Apply principles of nutrition in determining dietary causes and needed adjustments to diet related to electrolyte imbalances.
17. Plan effective care of patients, prioritizing interventions and addressing safety concerns, with electrolyte imbalances.
18. Plan effective IV and drug therapy for addressing specific electrolyte imbalances.
19. Describe the role of Vitamin D, parathormone, and calcitonin in the regulation of the balance between calcium and phosphate in the body.
20. Discuss the clinical manifestations and treatments for the syndrome of inappropriate secretion of ADH (SIADH).
21. Describe role of kidneys, lungs, & endocrine system in regulating the body’s fluid composition & volume.
22. Correctly interpret blood chemistry laboratory results to determine whether patients have fluid imbalances & determine effectiveness of interventions.

Answer 1

Discuss the functional fluid compartments of the body including the methods in which water moves between plasma and interstitial fluid.

Answer - Body fluids are the fluids that are present within the body. Our body consists of 60 to 70 % of water that is present inside the cell as well as outside and this helps in transfer of nutrients in the form of cations and anions via blood, it also helps in breakdown of complex food to facilitate digestion and prevent constipation. Along with this it is also important to know that excess of body fluids can cause the problem of water retention leading to swelling and stiff joints. The fluids are basically divided into three compartments 1) Intracellular fluid. 2) Interstitial fluid and 3) Intravascular fluid.

1) Intracellular fluids - The fluid that is present inside the cell is called as Intracellular fluid. This fluid mainly comprises of proteins and a lot of electrolytes for example potassium, magnesium and phosphate etc, which are extremely important for proper functioning of our body. This fluid comprises upto 40 - 45% of the tota body weight

2) Interstitial fluids - Interstitial fluid is also known as Extracellular fluid and this fluid is present outside the cells in simple terms it means that this is the fluid that surrounds the cell. This fluid mainly contains water soluble sugars, fatty acids, salt, hormones, amino acids, etc. This fluid comprises of 25 - 30% of the total water content of the body. This fluid provides the medium through which the exchange of substances could take place between the cells and the fluid because this fluid contains solute, electrolytes and gases required for maintenance of life

3) Intervascular fluid - This fluid basically represents both Intracellular and Interstitial fluid but the difference is that it is present within the blood vessel. This is so because the fluid inside the blood cell make the Intracellular fluid and the fluid around the blood cell that is the plasma makes the interstitial fluid. This fluid mainly comprises of colloidal substance like globulin, blood cells, glucose, ions and along with them they include plasma and lymph.

Now comes the question how does the water moves between plasma and interstitial fluid. So the two methods that help in the transfer and they are Osmotic Pressure and Hydrostatic Pressure

1. Osmotic Pressure is basically the pressure required to stop the backflow of the fluid passing through a semi permeable membrane via osmosis. In this context it means the total pressure required to facilitate reabsorption. This is achieved by allowing the fluid (water) to come in until the equilibrium is achieved. As this process mainly concentrates upon the concentration of fluid on both the sides of the membrane or cell.

2. Hydrostatic Pressure is basically the force exerted by the fluid that is in the state of equilibrium under the influence of gravity. Here in this context it means the pressure that is used to push the water outside the capillary into the plasma and this process is under the influence of the heart. This process is antagonist to osmotic presure.