Medical Surgical Nursing

NCM 112
BSN 3

Description
Fluid and electrolyte balance is a dynamic
process that is crucial for life and homeostasis.
• Fluid occupies almost 60% of the weight of an adult.
• Body fluid is located in two fluid compartments: the
intracellular space and the extracellular space.
• Electrolytes in body fluids are active chemicals or cat
ions that carry positive charges and anions that carry
negative charges.
• The major cat-ions in the body fluid are sodium,
potassium, calcium, magnesium, and hydrogen ions.
• The major anions are chloride, bicarbonate, sulfate, and
proteinate ions.

Homeostasis
Homeostasis is the dynamic process in which the body
maintains balance by constantly adjusting to internal and
external stimuli.
Negative and Positive Feedback
• Feedback is the relaying of information about a given
condition to the appropriate organ or system.
• Negative feedback. Negative feedback occurs when the
body reverses an original stimulus for the body to regain
physiologic balance.