Water & The Body Fluids

60% of adult body weight

-Water makes up of the
weight of lean tissue
-Water makes up of the
weight of fat

Copyright 2005 Wadsworth Group, a division of Thomson Learning

Water & Body Fluids

Functions of water:
Transport
Structural support for molecules
Participates in metabolic reactions
Solvent
Lubricant & shock absorber
Body temperature regulation
Maintains blood volume & blood
pressure

Water & The Body Fluids

Water balance
Intracellular fluid-within the cells
Extracellular fluid-outside the cells
Interstitial fluid
Plasma

Copyright 2005 Wadsworth Group, a division of Thomson Learning

One Cell
And Its
Associated
Fluids

Copyright 2005 Wadsworth Group, a division of Thomson Learning

Water & Body Fluids

Water Balance
-Intake/output = 2.5 liters/day
-Regulated by hypothalamus & kidneys
-Carefully controlled by:
1. Intake (liquid, foods, metabolic water)
affected by thirst & satiety
2. Output (losses via kidneys, skin, lungs,
feces) affected by blood salts, volume &
blood pressure

How The Body Regulates Blood Volume

Copyright 2005 Wadsworth Group, a division of Thomson Learning

Copyright 2005 Wadsworth Group, a division of Thomson Learning

Water & Body Fluids

Recommendations:
-Needs vary according to type of food
eaten, temperature, humidity, activity
level, etc.
-General rule: 11.5 ml/kcal expended
Example: if 2000 kcal burned then
2-3 liters suggested; >8 cups from fluids
and the rest comes from food &
metabolic water
-Urine should be pale yellow
-Caffeine & alcohol act as diuretics so not
good water substitutes

Fluid & Electrolyte Balance

Electrolytes salts that dissolve in
water, forming ions
Dissociation of salt in water
Ions
Cations- + charged particles
Anions- - charged particles
Electrolyte solution

Copyright 2005 Wadsworth Group, a division of Thomson Learning

Water Dissolves Salts

And Follows Electrolytes

Copyright 2005 Wadsworth Group, a division of Thomson Learning

Fluid & Electrolyte Balance

Electrolytes attract water - affects fluid
distribution in the body by osmosis
Water follows electrolytes
Solutes
Osmosis
Osmotic pressure
Electrolyte concentration regulated by
kidneys
Electrolytes & proteins act as buffers to
maintain the pH of body fluids acid/base
balance
Copyright 2005 Wadsworth Group, a division of Thomson Learning

Copyright 2005 Wadsworth Group, a division of Thomson Learning

Acid-Base Balance
pH
Regulation by the buffers
Bicarbonate
Carbonic acid
Regulation by the kidneys
Regulation by the lungs

Copyright 2005 Wadsworth Group, a division of Thomson Learning

Copyright 2005 Wadsworth Group, a division of Thomson Learning

Fluid & Electrolyte Imbalance

Replacing lost
fluids and
electrolytes
Oral rehydration
therapy (ORT)-a
simple solution
of sugar, salt
and water

Copyright 2005 Wadsworth Group, a division of Thomson Learning

Fluid & Electrolyte Imbalance

Sodium and chloride most easily lost
Different solutes lost by different
routes
Rapid fluid/electrolyte loss, i.e.
vomiting, diarrhea, heavy sweating,
fever, burns, wounds = medical
emergency

Copyright 2005 Wadsworth Group, a division of Thomson Learning