NURS 220 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Impaired Glucose Tolerance, Dietary Reference Intake, Extracellular Fluid
Document Summary
Water & the body fluids: in the body, water mingles with minerals, becomes a fluid in which all life processes take place, makes up 60% of body"s weight. Roles of water: carries nutrients & wastes, part of metabolic reactions, solvent for many nutrients, maintains bp & temperature, maintains blood volume, acts as a lubricant & cushion. Can only survive a few days without water. Thirst lags behind the lack of water: excretion regulation. If bp is low, kidneys release aldosterone & more water is absorbed. Need enough water to excrete minimum of 500 ml/day of urine: water is also lost in. Fluid & electrolyte balance: partially dissolved salts become electrolytes, are vital to the life of all cells, salts determine where fluids go, extracellular: sodium & chloride, intracellular: potassium. Acid-base balance: electrolytes act as buffers, are the first line of defense, can add acid or base depending on what is needed, other defenses.
