NURS 3812 Unit 3: Fluid Balance & Electrolytes
(week 12) Exam Questions and Correct Answers
What is fluid balance?
process of regulating the extracellular fluid volume, body fluid osmolality, and plasma
concentrations of electrolytes
What is fluid volume?
amount of fluid
What is blood fluid osmolality?
degree of concentration (how concentrated is it within the fluid)
What is intracellular fluid?
Fluid inside the cells
What is extracellular fluid?
Fluid outside the cells that includes intravascular, interstitial, and transcellular fluids
What is intravascular fluid?
Liquid part of the blood (plasma)
What is interstitial fluid?
Fluid between the cells and outside blood vessels
What is transcellular fluid?
Fluid in areas such as cerebrospinal, pleural, synovial etc.
,Where is the majority of fluid located?
intracellular space (inside cells)
What fluid locations are considered extracellular space?
interstitial, vascular, and transcellular
What is optimal fluid balance?
- intake & absorption of F&Es = output of F&Es
- volume & osmolality concentration of F&E in various body fluid compartments are in normal
range
What is considered a low concentration of Na+?
<135 mEq/L
What is considered a high concentration of Na+?
>145mEq/L
What is fluid balance maintained by?
- intake and absorption
- distribution
- output
What are the different routes of fluid intake?
oral, IV, NG
How does increased osmolality impact thirst?
, increases thirst response (decreased in older adults)
What is the distribution of fluid balance?
- extracellular (interstitial, vascular) --> moved through filtration
- intracellular & extracellular --> moved through osmosis (movement of water across membrane
to balance concentration)
What are the "normal" routes of fluid output?
urine, feces, skin/sweat, lungs
What are the abnormal routes of fluid output?
emesis, hemorrhage, wound drainage
What regulates fluid output?
kidneys --> aldosterone (Na + H2O), ADH (H2O)
What are the key characteristics of fluid balance for infants and children?
- most vulnerable for imbalance
- unable to communicate thirst
- larger ECF volume = faster fluid loss
- higher rates of metabolism = use up more H2O
- higher percentage of body content water = need more H2O to maintain balance
- higher BSA (body surface area) to volume = loose more H2O through skin (sweating)
- immature kidneys = little reserve/need electrolytes
Do infants have more fluid in the ECF or ICF?
(week 12) Exam Questions and Correct Answers
What is fluid balance?
process of regulating the extracellular fluid volume, body fluid osmolality, and plasma
concentrations of electrolytes
What is fluid volume?
amount of fluid
What is blood fluid osmolality?
degree of concentration (how concentrated is it within the fluid)
What is intracellular fluid?
Fluid inside the cells
What is extracellular fluid?
Fluid outside the cells that includes intravascular, interstitial, and transcellular fluids
What is intravascular fluid?
Liquid part of the blood (plasma)
What is interstitial fluid?
Fluid between the cells and outside blood vessels
What is transcellular fluid?
Fluid in areas such as cerebrospinal, pleural, synovial etc.
,Where is the majority of fluid located?
intracellular space (inside cells)
What fluid locations are considered extracellular space?
interstitial, vascular, and transcellular
What is optimal fluid balance?
- intake & absorption of F&Es = output of F&Es
- volume & osmolality concentration of F&E in various body fluid compartments are in normal
range
What is considered a low concentration of Na+?
<135 mEq/L
What is considered a high concentration of Na+?
>145mEq/L
What is fluid balance maintained by?
- intake and absorption
- distribution
- output
What are the different routes of fluid intake?
oral, IV, NG
How does increased osmolality impact thirst?
, increases thirst response (decreased in older adults)
What is the distribution of fluid balance?
- extracellular (interstitial, vascular) --> moved through filtration
- intracellular & extracellular --> moved through osmosis (movement of water across membrane
to balance concentration)
What are the "normal" routes of fluid output?
urine, feces, skin/sweat, lungs
What are the abnormal routes of fluid output?
emesis, hemorrhage, wound drainage
What regulates fluid output?
kidneys --> aldosterone (Na + H2O), ADH (H2O)
What are the key characteristics of fluid balance for infants and children?
- most vulnerable for imbalance
- unable to communicate thirst
- larger ECF volume = faster fluid loss
- higher rates of metabolism = use up more H2O
- higher percentage of body content water = need more H2O to maintain balance
- higher BSA (body surface area) to volume = loose more H2O through skin (sweating)
- immature kidneys = little reserve/need electrolytes
Do infants have more fluid in the ECF or ICF?
