NUR 252 – Fluid and Electrolyte Study
Questions and Correct Answers
Fluid and Electrolyte balance ✅The process of regulating the extracellular fluid
volume, body fluid osmolality, and plasma concentration of electrolytes
What is fluid? ✅Fluid is water plus the substances dissolved and suspended in it
What are the characteristics of Fluid & Electrolyte balance? ✅1. Volume (amount)
2. Concentration (osmolarity)
Intracellular Fluid (ICF) ✅fluid inside cells
63-70% of TBW
Water, proteins, electrolytes
Extracellular Fluid (ECF) ✅Fluid outside cells
30-37% of TBW
Intravascular component: whole blood
Interstitial component: surrounds cells in tissues
Transcellular component: fluid in defined spaces
Osmosis ✅Water moves from less concentrated to more concentrated areas to
equalize concentrations
Diffusion ✅Molecules move from higher to lower concentrated areas
Active transport ✅Requires ATP
Move molecules too large to diffuse
Colloid osmotic pressure ✅Oncotic pressure
Concentration of proteins
Hydrostatic pressure ✅pressure of fluids or their properties when in equilibrium
Capillary hydrostatic pressure (blood pressure) ✅Facilitates outward movement of
water from the capillary to the interstitial space
Capillary (plasma) oncotic pressure ✅Osmotically attracts water from the interstitial
space into the capillary
, Interstitial hydrostatic pressure ✅inward movement from the interstitial space to the
capillary
Interstitial oncotic pressure ✅Osmotically attracts water from the capillary into the
interstitial space
Net Filtration ✅the movement of fluid back and forth across the capillary wall
Net filtration equation ✅Net filtration = (forces favoring filtration) - (forces opposing
filtration)
Forces favoring filtration = ✅capillary hydrostatic pressure and interstitial oncotic
pressure
Forces opposing filtration = ✅capillary oncotic pressure and interstitial hydrostatic
pressure
What is sodium responsible for? ✅ECF osmotic balance
What is potassium responsible for? ✅ICF osmotic balance
Edema ✅excessive accumulation of fluid within the interstitial spaces
Why does hydrostatic pressure increase? ✅As a result of venous obstruction or salt
and water retention
What does venous obstruction cause? ✅Hydrostatic pressure to increase being the
obstruction, pushing fluid from the capillaries into the interstitial spaces
What is associated with excessive salt and water retention and what does it case?
✅Congestive heart failure, renal failure, and cirrhosis of the liver are associated with
excessive salt and water retention.
This causes plasma volume overload, increased capillary hydrostatic pressure and
edema
What are causes of edema? ✅Increased capillary hydrostatic pressure
Increased capillary permeability
Decreased colloid osmotic pressure
Obstruction in lymphatic system
Excess body water and sodium
How does lost or diminished plasma albumin production (ie: liver disease) lead to
edema? ✅Lost or diminished plasma albumin (ex: liver disease) contributes to
Questions and Correct Answers
Fluid and Electrolyte balance ✅The process of regulating the extracellular fluid
volume, body fluid osmolality, and plasma concentration of electrolytes
What is fluid? ✅Fluid is water plus the substances dissolved and suspended in it
What are the characteristics of Fluid & Electrolyte balance? ✅1. Volume (amount)
2. Concentration (osmolarity)
Intracellular Fluid (ICF) ✅fluid inside cells
63-70% of TBW
Water, proteins, electrolytes
Extracellular Fluid (ECF) ✅Fluid outside cells
30-37% of TBW
Intravascular component: whole blood
Interstitial component: surrounds cells in tissues
Transcellular component: fluid in defined spaces
Osmosis ✅Water moves from less concentrated to more concentrated areas to
equalize concentrations
Diffusion ✅Molecules move from higher to lower concentrated areas
Active transport ✅Requires ATP
Move molecules too large to diffuse
Colloid osmotic pressure ✅Oncotic pressure
Concentration of proteins
Hydrostatic pressure ✅pressure of fluids or their properties when in equilibrium
Capillary hydrostatic pressure (blood pressure) ✅Facilitates outward movement of
water from the capillary to the interstitial space
Capillary (plasma) oncotic pressure ✅Osmotically attracts water from the interstitial
space into the capillary
, Interstitial hydrostatic pressure ✅inward movement from the interstitial space to the
capillary
Interstitial oncotic pressure ✅Osmotically attracts water from the capillary into the
interstitial space
Net Filtration ✅the movement of fluid back and forth across the capillary wall
Net filtration equation ✅Net filtration = (forces favoring filtration) - (forces opposing
filtration)
Forces favoring filtration = ✅capillary hydrostatic pressure and interstitial oncotic
pressure
Forces opposing filtration = ✅capillary oncotic pressure and interstitial hydrostatic
pressure
What is sodium responsible for? ✅ECF osmotic balance
What is potassium responsible for? ✅ICF osmotic balance
Edema ✅excessive accumulation of fluid within the interstitial spaces
Why does hydrostatic pressure increase? ✅As a result of venous obstruction or salt
and water retention
What does venous obstruction cause? ✅Hydrostatic pressure to increase being the
obstruction, pushing fluid from the capillaries into the interstitial spaces
What is associated with excessive salt and water retention and what does it case?
✅Congestive heart failure, renal failure, and cirrhosis of the liver are associated with
excessive salt and water retention.
This causes plasma volume overload, increased capillary hydrostatic pressure and
edema
What are causes of edema? ✅Increased capillary hydrostatic pressure
Increased capillary permeability
Decreased colloid osmotic pressure
Obstruction in lymphatic system
Excess body water and sodium
How does lost or diminished plasma albumin production (ie: liver disease) lead to
edema? ✅Lost or diminished plasma albumin (ex: liver disease) contributes to
