Total Body Water & Compartments
About 60% of an adult male’s body weight is composed of this substance.
What is total body water?
A rapid change in this measurement is the most reliable indicator of acute fluid volume change.
What is daily body weight?
The pressure exerted by fluid against capillary walls.
What is hydrostatic pressure?
Severe hypovolemia can progress to this life-threatening condition.
What is hypovolemic shock?
The abnormal accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal cavity.
What is ascites?
This compartment contains approximately two-thirds of total body water.
What is the intracellular fluid (ICF) compartment?
Dry mucous membranes, decreased skin turgor, and hypotension suggest this condition.
What is fluid volume deficit (dehydration)?
The pulling force exerted by plasma proteins such as albumin.
What is oncotic pressure?
Fluid overload increases workload on this organ system.
What is the cardiovascular system (or the heart)?
Portal hypertension and low albumin commonly cause ascites in this chronic disease.
What is liver cirrhosis?
This compartment includes interstitial fluid, plasma, and transcellular fluid.
What is the extracellular fluid (ECF) compartment?
Jugular venous distention, crackles in lungs, and peripheral edema indicate this condition.
What is fluid volume excess?
This process requires energy to move substances against a concentration gradient.
What is active transport?
Electrolyte imbalances most dangerously affect this system.
What is the cardiac conduction system?
Thirst, concentrated urine, and poor skin turgor are classic findings of this condition.
What is dehydration?
The movement of water across a semipermeable membrane from low solute concentration to high solute concentration.
What is osmosis?
This vital sign change is often an early indicator of hypovolemia.
What is tachycardia?
Increased capillary permeability commonly occurs in this condition and promotes fluid shift into tissues.
What is inflammation (or sepsis/burns)?
Confusion and seizures may result from severe imbalance of this electrolyte.
What is sodium?
This hormone increases water reabsorption in the kidneys during dehydration.
What is ADH (antidiuretic hormone)?
These two primary forces regulate fluid movement between plasma and interstitial spaces.
What are hydrostatic pressure and oncotic (colloid osmotic) pressure?
A urine output less than 0.5 mL/kg/hr suggests this.
What is inadequate renal perfusion or fluid volume deficit?
Low plasma albumin levels promote this abnormal accumulation of fluid in tissues.
What is edema?
This diagnostic test is essential for identifying dangerous potassium imbalances.
What is an ECG (electrocardiogram)?
Third-spacing refers to fluid shifting into this nonfunctional compartment.
What is the interstitial or peritoneal space?