Water and Electrolyte Balance

Most of the human body's weight consists of fluid. This mixture of water and electrolytes is subdivided into separate and distinct compartments. Various homeostatic mechanisms precisely define the composition and volume of these fluids. The compartments' different chemical compositions are maintained by cell membrane sodium-potassium pumps. Volume and electrolyte imbalances generally occur when fluid gains do not equal fluid losses. This can result in, for example, fluid depletion or a condition known as disordered water balance. By educating patients on the importance of fluid balance, nurses may promote good health.

Fluid comprises approximately 60 percent of a typical adult's weight. The solution generally consists of water and electrolytes. An electrolyte may be defined as "a substance that develops an electrical charge when dissolved in water" (Metheny, 1992, pp. 3-10). Electrolytes which develop a positive charge are known as cations (e.g., sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium). In contrast, anions develop a negative charge when dissolved in water. Anionic electrolytes include chloride and bicarbonate.

The total body water (TBW) content of any individual varies according to such factors as body fat content, sex, and age. Fat cells, for instance, contain little water; whereas, lean tissue has a higher overall water content. People who are obese, therefore, generally have less total body fluid th

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lary wall depends on various interacting forces. For one, hydrostatic pressure drives fluid from the plasma into the tissues. Second, osmotic pressure exerted by the plasma protein acts to draw fluid back into the capillary. The direction of actual fluid movement depends on the relative strength of these opposing forces. Near the arterial end of the capillary, hydrostatic pressure is greater than colloid osmotic pressure. Hence, fluid moves into the tissues. In contrast, at vessels' venous ends, osmotic pressures are greater than the hydrostatic pressures. This results in fluid moving back into the capillary (Metheny, 1992, pp. 3-10). Various physiologic mechanisms maintain the body's fluid homeostasis to within narrow limits. Water and electrolytes are gained and lost in various ways. A healthy person will gain fluids by eating and drinking. In contrast, fluids are typically lost through the normal functioning of numerous different organs. One such organ, the kidney, produces urine. A typical adult may generate between 1 and 2 liters of urine each day. Moreover, through the selective regulation and excretion of water and electrolytes, the kidneys additionally regulate ECF volume and osmolality. Water and electrol
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Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page)

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