I. CONCEPTS OF FLUID AND ELECTROLYTE

A. FLUID and ELECTROLYTE DYNAMICS

1. Water Distribution and Fluid Compartments

2. Electrolytes

3. Fluid and electrolyte movement

B. Assessment of client with Fluid and Electrolyte Imbalances

Water Distribution and Fluid Compartments

o 60 % - of the weight of a typical adult consist of fluid (water and electrolyte)

o factors affecting the amount of fluid in our body (age, gender and body fat)

In general :

younger people have the higher percentage of body fluid than older people

men have proportionately more body fluid than female

people who are obese have less fluid than thin (because fat cells contains

less/little water)

skeleton has the low water content

muscle, skin and blood have the highest amount of water

Body Fluid is located in 2 compartments :

intracellular space (inside the cell)

extracellular space (outside the cell)

2/3 of the body fluid is in intracellular fluid compartment (ICF) and is located

primarily in the skeletal muscle mass.

1/3 is in the extracellular fluid compartment (ECF)

ECF (extracellular fluid compartment) - divided in to 3

intravascular

interstitial

intracellular fluid spaces

Intravascular space

fluid within the blood vessels (contains plasma)

6L average of blood volume (3L - made up of plasma and 3L - is made up of

erythrocytes, leukocytes and thrombocytes)

Interstitial space

contains fluid that surrounds the cells and totals about 11 to 12L in an adult.

Transcellular space

smallest division of ECF and contains approximately 1L. (e.g cerebrospinal

fluid, pleural fluid,sweat.