Pathophysiology

Pathophysiology Study Guide

Chapter 5: The Renal System/Fluids and Electrolytes/Acid-Base Objectives 1. Understand the basic concepts related to the disorders, diseases, and infections in the renal system of the body. 2. Differentiate between normal functioning of the kidney, bladder, and the overall renal system of the body and problems within the renal system. 3. Describe renal diseases and disorders along with the etiology, causes, symptoms, and consequences. 5.1 Fluid Imbalance Control of Fluid Volume Body fluids are mainly comprised of water and electrolytes. Normal body volume of fluid is known as euvolemia. It includes the level of blood, interstitial volume of fluid, and intracellular volume. Fluid imbalance refers to when the level of fluids in the body become abnormal. The imbalance of fluids is generally associated with chemicals in the body that regulate the fluids in the body, like sodium and potassium. Deficit The body loses fluids from the body by means of sweating, urination, respiration, precipitation, and defecation. Inadequate intake of fluids to compensate this loss leads to a deficit of fluids known as dehydration. Some of the causes of fluid deficit include diarrhea, vomiting, excessive loss of blood, high temperature, and lack of antidiuretic hormone due to which the kidneys release excess amounts of fluid, causing dehydration and extreme thirst. Excess If a person is not able to excrete fluids adequately, it may lead to excessive amounts of fluid accumulating in the body, causing fluid overload. This situation can even cause edema, which is the disorder in which excess fluids get retained in the skin. The causes of fluid overload include surgery in the form of swelling; heart failure causing accumulation of fluids in the lungs, blood vessels, liver, and other tissues of the body; and chronic kidney disease such that the kidneys are not able to perform efficiently and are not able to get rid of excess fluids. 5.2 Electrolyte Imbalance The minerals present in the body that have an electric charge in them are called electrolytes. These electrolytes are present in various parts of the body like in blood, urine, and body fluids. The main

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