LAB: Fluids, Electrolytes, and Acid-Base Balance
Body Fluids, Solutes, and pH
Optimum cellular functioning depends largely on the chemical composition of its surrounding environment. This chemical environment should remain fairly constant so that each cell in every tissue can maintain metabolic reactions and thus maintain its own chemical composition along with its water or fluid content. As long as the body's chemistry is in balance, the body maintains homeostasis.
There are various substances or descriptions of activities that contribute to our body's chemical composition. The substances or descriptions are listed below. Determine if the following descriptions refer to electrolytes (E) or nonelectrolytes (N). Highlight either E or N for each of the substances or descriptions.
1. Lipids, monosaccharides, and neutral fats. N
2. Have greater osmotic power at equal concentrations. E
3. The most numerous solutes in the body's fluid compartments. E
4. Salts, acids, and bases. E
5. Each molecule dissociates into two or more ions E
Answer the following questions:
6. Name the chief cation in the extracellular compartments.
7. Name the 2 major anions in the extracellular compartments.
8. Electrolyte concentrations in the two extracellular compartments are similar, except for the high concentration of which ORGANIC molecules in plasma?
9. Name the 3 sources of body water and indicate which source makes up the bulk of body water.
10. Mary Peeples has Cushing's disease along with an associated hyperaldosteronism. She has regular checkups with her primary care physician to monitor the disease. The PCP is concerned she may also suffer from another condition. Is Mary more likely to suffer from dehydration, hypotonic hydration, or edema?