Fluid and Electrolyte Balance Essentials

📋 Course Outline

1. Fluid Compartments
2. Electrolyte Functions
3. Regulation Mechanisms
4. Assessment Methods
5. Fluid Imbalances
6. Electrolyte Disorders
7. Nursing Interventions
8. Special Patient Considerations
9. Clinical Case Applications

📖 1. Fluid Compartments

🔑 Key Concepts & Definitions

• Total Body Water (TBW): The total amount of fluid in the body, approximately 60% of adult body weight, divided into intracellular and extracellular compartments.
• Intracellular Fluid (ICF): Fluid located within cells, constituting about 60% of TBW; rich in potassium (K⁺) and phosphate (HPO₄²⁻).
• Extracellular Fluid (ECF): Fluid outside cells, about 40% of TBW; includes interstitial fluid and plasma, high in sodium (Na⁺) and chloride (Cl⁻).
• Interstitial Fluid: ECF surrounding tissue cells, makes up roughly 75% of ECF.
• Plasma: The liquid component of blood, accounts for about 25% of ECF; transports nutrients, hormones, and waste.
• Osmolality: The concentration of solutes in body fluids, influencing water movement between compartments.

📝 Essential Points