1st SEMESTER MIDTERM REVIEWER in

MEDICAL SURGICAL NURSING

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 cations that carry positive charges
and anions that carry negative charges.
The major cations in the body fluid are sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and
hydrogen ions.
The major anions are chloride, bicarbonate, sulfate, and proteinate ions.

End goal of diffusion & osmosis is to

maintain homeostasis and balance

DIFFUSION
Passive Transport
- Solute molecules move from high to low concentration

OSMOSIS
- solvent molecules move from low to high solute concentration

FILTRATION
-
Isotonic Solution
- does not have an effect on cell

Hypotonic Solution
- movement of fluid is from ECF→ICF
(low concentration to high concentration)
- makes the cell swell or expand

Hypertonic Solution
- movement of fluid is from ICF→ECF
(high concentration to low concentration)
- makes the cell shrink

Acid normally

pH 7.35-7.45 Alkalosis

CO2 35-45 Acidosis Metabolic

(Carbon Dioxide)

HCO3 22-26 Alkalosis Respiratory

(Bicarbonate)

Base normally
Sodium
- Normal value: 135-145 mEq/L
- Fluid shift: ECF→ICF
- regulates muscle contractions and nerve function

Potassium
- Normal value: 3.5- 5.0 mEq/L
- Fluid shift:
- regulates heart contractions and help maintain fluid balance

Calcium
- Normal value: 8.8- 10.4 mg/dL
- Fluid shift:
- muscle contraction, nerve function, blood clotting, cell division, healthy bones and
teeth

Magnesium
- Normal value: 1.8-2.6 mg/dL
- Fluid shift: ECF→ICF (low concentration to high concentration)
- acts as sedative in our body, muscle contraction, nerve function, heart rhythm, bone
strength, generating energy and building protein

Phosphate
- Normal value: 2.7-4.5 mg/dL
- Fluid shift:
- help building and repairing (through mineralization) bones and teeth, nerve function,
muscle contraction

Chloride
- Normal value: 97-107 mg/dL
- Fluid shift:
- maintains fluid balance
STRESS