Body Fluids

INTRODUCTION
SIGNIFICANCE „
COMPARTMENTS „
COMPOSITION „
MEASUREMENT „
CONCENTRATION „
„
 INTRODUCTION
.Body is formed by solids and fluids
.Fluid part is more than two third of the whole body
.Water forms most of the fluid part of the body
.the total body water varies from 45% to 75% of body weight
In a normal young adult male, body contains 60% to 65% of
.water and 35% to 40% of solids
In a normal young adult female, the water is 50% to 55% and
.solids are 45% to 50%
In thin persons, water content is more than that in obese
.persons
Total quantity of body water in an average human being
.weighting about 70 kg is about 40 L
Body composition in a 70 Kg young adult
:male
Water = 60% –
Proteins = 18% –
Fats = 15% –
Minerals = 7% –
Carbohydrates < 1% –
SIGNIFICANCE OF BODY FLUIDS
IN HOMEOSTASIS .1
Body cells survive in the fluid medium
.’called internal enviroment
Internal enviroment contains substances such
as glucose, amino acids, lipids, vitamins, ions,
..oxygen
which are essential for growth and functioning
.of the cell
Water plays an important role in homeostasis
 IN TRANSPORT MECHANISM .2
Body water forms the transport medium by which
nutrients and other essential substances enter
the cells. and unwanted substances come out of
.the cells
Water forms an important medium by which
various enzymes, hormones, vitamins,
electrolytes and other substances
are carried from one part to another part of the
body
IN METABOLIC REACTION .3
TEMPERATURE REGULATIONS .4
COMPARTMENTS OF BODY FLUIDS

.Total water in the body is about 40 L

It is distributed into two major compartments
Intracellular fluid (ICF): Its volume is .1
22 L and it forms 55% of the total body water
Extracellular fluid (ECF): Its volume is .2
18 L and it forms 45% of the total body water
:ECF is divided into 3 subunits
i. Interstitial fluid and lymph (20%) about 12L
ii. Plasma (7.5%) about 2,75L
iii. Others about 3.25L
i. Fluid in bones (7.5%)
ii. Fluid in dense connective tissues like cartilage
:iii. Transcellular fluid (2.5%) that includes(
a. Cerebrospinal fluid b. Intraocular fluid c. Digestive juices
d. Serous fluid – intrapleural fluid, pericardial
fluid and peritoneal fluid
.e. Synovial fluid in joints f. Fluid in urinary tract
:In a 70 Kg adult male
Total body water = 42 L (60% of the total –
body weight)
ICF = 28 L (= 40% of total body weight) •
ECF = 14 L (= 20% of total body weight) •
ISF = 10.5 L (= 15% of total body weight) –
IVF (Plasma) = 3.5 L (= 5% of total body –
weight
COMPOSITION OF BODY FLUIDS
ICF ECF Difference

25L 15L Volume

mmol/L 10 mmol/L 142.0 Sodium (Na+)

mmol/L 140 mmol/L 4.0 Potassium (K+)

Negligible (0) mmol/L 2.5 Calcium (Ca+2)

mmEq/L 26 mmEq/L 2.0 Magnesium (Mg+2)

mmol/L 4 mmol/L 105.0 Chloride (Cl-)

mmol/L 10 /mmol 25.0 Bicarbonate (HCO3-)

mEq/L 100 mEq/L 2.0 Phosphate (PO4-3)

 MEASUREMENT OF BODY FLUID
VOLUME
Total body water and the volume of different
compartments of the body fluid are
measured by
indicator dilution method or dye dilution
method
 INDICATOR DILUTION METHOD
Principle
A known quantity of a substance is administered into
.a specific body fluid compartment
These substances are called the marker substances or
.indicators
After administration into the fluid compartment ,
the substance is allowed to mix thoroughly with the
fluid. Then, a sample of fluid is drawn and the
.concentration of the marker substance is determined
Radioactive substances or other substances
 V-equal M/ C
.V = Volume of fluid in the compartment
M = Mass or total quantity of marker substance
.injected
C = Concentration of the marker substance in the
sample fluid
Correction factor
Some amount of marker substance is lost through
urine during distribution. So, the formula is corrected as
:follows

M – Amount of substance excrete / C

= Volume
 Characteristics of Marker
Substances

Non toxic
Easily measured -
Their amounts are not altered by the body (not -
stored, metabolized, excreted or produced by the
body) or the altered amount can be calculated easily
Distribute only in the compartment being measured -
Do not affect water distribution in other -
compartments
 Marker substances used to measure body
fluid compartments
Marker substances Fluid compartment
Deuterium oxide (D2O) .1 Total body water
Tritium oxide (T2O) .2
Antipyrine .3
,Radioactive sodium, chloride .1 Extracellular fluid
.bromide, sulfate and thiosulfate
Non-metabolizable saccharides .2
like inulin, mannitol, raffinose
and sucrose
Radioactive iodine (131I) .1 Plasma
Evans blue (T-1824) .2
CONCENTRATION OF BODY FLUIDS

Concentration of body fluids is

:expressed in three ways
Osmolality .1
Osmolarity .2
.Tonicity .3
 Osmolarity
Osmolarity is the number of osmoles of
. solute per one liter of solution (osmole/L)
Osmolality
Osmolality is the number of osmoles per -
one kilogram of solvent (osmole/Kg )
 Tonicity
This term is used when describing osmolality of a -
.solution relative to osmolality of the plasma
:Accordingly, solutions may be
o Isotonic (with osmolality similar to plasma)
o Hypotonic (with osmolality lower than plasma)
o Hypertonic (with osmolality higher than plasma
 Calculation of osmolality

A. From the Freezing Point Depression

One osmole depresses the freezing point of a solution by 1.86

οc

One milliosmole depresses the freezing point by 0.00186 οc -

= Number of milliosmoles per liter in a solution -
The freezing point depression/0.00186
Q: Calculate the osmolality of normal human plasma if the
freezing point = - 0.55 οc
Plasma osmolality = 0.55/0.00186 = 295 mosm/L
 B. From the Molarity
Number of osmoles = Number of moles x number of particles
(liberated by a single molecule)
Q: Calculate the osmolarity of 0.9% NaCl solution and mention
the effect of this solution on volume and osmolarity of ICF after
.its infusion in the plasma? (Molecular weight of NaCl = 58.5)
Answer: 0.9% NaCl = 0.9 g/dL, (x 10) = 9 g/L
Molarity = [conc. g/L] / MWt of NaCl = 9 / 58.5 mol/L
mol/L, (x 1000) = 154 mmol/L 0.154 =
Osmolarity = 154 x 2 = 308 mosm/L
Isotonic, has no effect on ICF(
Q: Calculate the osmolarity of 5% glucose solution. If one liter
of this solution is infused intravenously, mention the immediate
.and the later effects on the cells? (MWt glucose = 180)
Answer: 5% glucose = 5g/dL = 50 g/L
Molarity = [Conc. g/L]/MWt
mol/L 0.278 = 50/180 =
278 mmol/L = )x 1000(
Osmolarity = 278 x 1 = 278 mosm/L (Isotonic)
Immediate : no effect because it is isotonic
After hypotonic; water enters cells, it increases volume &
.decreases osmolarity of ICF
APPLIED PHYSIOLOGY
 DEHYDRATION
Definition
Excessive loss of water from the body
Classification
:Basically, dehydration is of three types
Mild dehydration: It occurs when fluid loss is .1
about
.of total body fluids 5%
Moderate dehydration: It occurs when fluid loss .2
..is about 10%
Severe dehydration: It occurs when fluid loss is .3
.about 15%
On the basis of ratio between water loss and sodium
:loss, dehydration is classified into three types
Isotonic dehydration: Balanced loss of water and .1
.sodium as in the case of diarrhea or vomiting
Hypertonic dehydration: Loss of more water than .2
.sodium as in the case of fever
Hypotonic dehydration: Loss of more sodium than .3
water as in the case of excess use of diuretics
Causes
Severe diarrhea and vomiting due to gastrointestinal .1
disorders
Excess urinary output due to renal disorders .2
Excess loss of water through urine due to endocrine .3
disorders
Insufficient intake of water .4
Prolonged physical activity without consuming .5
adequate amount of water in hot environment
Excess sweating .6
Use of laxatives or diuretics in order to lose weight .7
.quickly. This is common in athletes
Signs and Symptoms
Mild and moderate dehydration
Dryness of the mouth .1
Excess thirst .2
Decrease in sweating .3
Decrease in urine formation .4
Headache .5
Dizziness .6
Weakness .7
Cramps in legs and arms .8
Severe dehydration
Decrease in blood volume .1
Decrease in cardiac output .2
Low blood pressure .3
Hypovolemic cardiac shock .4
.
Very severe dehydration
Damage of organs like brain, liver and kidneys .1
Mental depression and confusion .2
Renal failure .3
.Coma .4