Chapter

Overview of Fluid and Electrolyte Balance

From Human Nutrition by Human Nutrition

Concepts

1. Water Content

   "Water is made up of 2 hydrogen atoms and 1 oxygen atom. A human body is made up of mostly water. An adult consists of about 37 to 42 liters of water, or about eighty pounds. Newborns are approximatel

2. Fluid Compartments

   "Although water makes up the largest percentage of body volume, it is not actually pure water but rather a mixture of cells, proteins, glucose, lipoproteins, electrolytes, and other substances. Electr

3. Osmoregulation

   "One of the essential homeostatic functions of the body is to maintain fluid balance and the differences in solute composition between cells and their surrounding environment. Osmoregulation is the co

4. Tonicity

   "Cells maintain water volume by actively controlling electrolyte concentrations. Human erythrocytes, or red blood cells, are shown under hypertonic, isotonic, and hypotonic conditions. In hypertonic c