MA278 Rasmussen Mod 8 Fluid Electrolyte and Acid-Base Balance Lab Report (MA 278 ANATOMY AND PHSYIOLOGY)

Introduction This week’s lab will examine the dynamics of fluid, electrolyte, and acid-base balance. Objectives Objectives for this week’s lab include: 1) Identify the body water content and fluid compartments, 2) Define the factors that influence water balance, 3) Compare and contrast electrolyte imbalances, 4) Describe how the body maintains an acid-base balance, and 5) Compare and contrast the acid-base imbalances. Overview A cell’s ability to function and live depends on not only it’s ability to receive nutrients and dispose of wastes but also to maintain homeostasis of the surrounding fluids. The homeostasis and proper balance of water concentration, electrolytes, and pH regulation is dependent upon a number of mechanisms and organ systems. Failure on any level will lead to homeostatic imbalances that will cause dysfunction, cellular death and even organism death. Water occupies and is found in two regions of the body called fluid compartments: Intracellular fluid (ICF) compartment and the extracellular fluid (ECF) compartment. About 2/3 of the water volume is found in the ICF compartment which is the water found inside of cells and the other 1/3 of water is found in the ECF compartment, which is water fluid found around the cells. The ECF is further divided into two regions: Blood plasma and interstitial fluid (IF). IF is the water found in the spaces around and in between the cells. It is important to understand the movement of fluid between the compartments and the effects the gain and loss of water has on each of the compartments. Water is a universal solvent being able to dissolve many solutes. Generally, solutes are classified as electrolytes or nonelectrolytes. Due to their chemical properties, nonelectrolytes, such as urea, glucose, lipids, do not dissolve in water and conduct electricity. Electrolytes have the ability to dissociate into ions within water and will have the ability to conduct electricity. Specific electrolyte concentration will vary from ICF to ECF and is important to maintain proper electrolyte concentration to maintain proper resting membrane potential charge of a cell. Imbalances to the water balance within the body can have significant impacts on electrolyte levels and overall body physiology. Three common water imbalances are: Edema- accumulation of fluid in the interstitial space, which leads to swelling of the tissues but not cells, Over-hydration or hypotonic hydration- having too much water within the fluid compartments which leads to severe metabolic disturbances, and Dehydration- the general loss of water from the fluid compartments. It can include solutes too in the loss. In any case, electrolyte imbalance will occur with water imbalances. Sodium (Na+), potassium (K+) and calcium (Ca++) are the three main electrolytes that the body needs to regulate to maintain proper physiology. Acid-base balance is closely regulated by the body due to the influence pH (H+ ion concentration) can have on functional proteins. There are three chemical buffer systems that help regulate and resist changes to the body’s pH, which include: Protein buffer system, Bicarbonate buffer system, and the Phosphate buffer system. The respiratory and urinary systems also have mechanisms that help regulate acid- base balance within the body. Materials • Markers and color pencils of various colors • Large Post-It note presentation pads or paper presentation pads Pre-Lab Evaluation Questions The pre-lab evaluation questions must be answered prior to lab and demonstrated to your lab instructor. You must read through the assigned chapter readings, lab introduction, objectives, overview and procedure to answer these questions. Please cite your work for any reference source you utilize in answering these questions. 1. Compare and contrast the detailed characteristics to the intracellular fluid (ICF) and extracellular fluid (ECF) compartments. The chemical reactions of life take place in aqueous solutions. In the body, water moves through semi-permeable membranes of cells from one fluid compartment of the body to another by osmosis (OpenStax, 2013). Water is found in two main fluid compartments, intracellular fluid and extracellular fluid. The intracellular fluid (ICF) compartment is the system that includes all the fluid enclosed in cells by their plasma membranes. This comprises about two-thirds of the body’s overall water content and volume. Extracellular fluid (ECF) surrounds all cells in the body. ECF comprises about one-third of the body’s water content and volume (Rasmussen College, 2017). ECF has two primary constituents: interstitial fluid (IF) and plasma. Interstitial fluid is the fluid in the space between the cells. Plasma is the fluid component of blood. Materials, such as gases, nutrients, and waste materials, travel between cells and the plasma in capillaries through the IF. Cells are separated from the IF by a selectively permeable cell membrane that helps regulate the passage of material between the IF and the interior of the cell (OpenStax, 2013). The ECF and ICF have different concentrations of electrolytes (Rasmussen College, 2017). The composition of the IF and plasma are more similar to each other than either is to the ICF. Blood plasma has high concentrations of sodium, chloride, bicarbonate, and protein. The IF has high concentrations of sodium, chloride, and bicarbonate, but a relatively lower concentration of protein. In contrast, the ICF has elevated amounts of potassium, phosphate, magnesium, and protein. Overall, the ICF contains high concentrations of potassium and phosphate, however both plasma and the IF contain high concentrations of sodium and chloride (OpenStax, 2013). Osmotic and hydrostatic pressures regulate the movement of fluid between the compartments. Changes in solute concentration in a body compartment will lead to water movement (Rasmussen College, 2017). 2. Describe how osmoreceptors, a decrease in blood pressure (or volume) and a dry mouth will activate the thirst center in the hypothalamus. Plasma osmolality is the ratio of solutes to water in blood plasma. An individual’s plasma osmolality value reflects his or her state of hydration. Regulatory water intake and output mechanisms maintain plasma osmolality within a narrow range. Dehydration is a net loss of water that results in blood and other tissues. The thirst response begins when osmoreceptors detect a decrease in water levels in the blood. Decreased blood volume has two effects. First, baroreceptors detect a decrease in blood pressure that results from decreased blood volume. The heart is signaled to increase its rate and/or strength of contractions to compensate for the lowered pressure. Second, the kidneys increase the production of hormone angiotensin II, which helps stimulate thirst. It also stimulates the release of aldosterone from the adrenal glands. Aldosterone increases the reabsorption of sodium in the DCTs in the kidneys. This is effective because water will follow the reabsorbed sodium back into the blood. Osmoreceptors are sensory receptors in the thirst center in the hypothalamus that monitor the concentration of solutes of the blood. If blood osmolality increases above its ideal value, the hypothalamus transmits signals that result in a conscious awareness of thirst. The person should, and usually does, respond by drinking water. The hypothalamus of a dehydrated person also releases ADH through the pituitary gland. ADH signals the kidneys to recover water from urine, which dilutes the blood plasma. The hypothalamus also sends signals via the sympathetic nervous system to the salivary glands in the mouth. The signals result in a decrease in watery output, and an increase in a thicker mucus output. These changes in secretions result in a “dry mouth” and the sensation of thirst (OpenStax, 2013). ....................................................................................................CONTINUE.