Body fluids are things like sweat, tears, blood, urine, CSF, mucus, genital secretions, breast milk; just about anything that is a part of or can come out of the body.
The two major fluid compartments in the body are the intracellular fluid, which is located inside cells, and the extracellular fluid, which includes the fluid found outside of cells in the interstitial spaces and blood plasma.
An organ, such as the stomach or lungs, can be considered a compartment within the body. These compartments are essential for specific functions and are separated by membranes to maintain their unique environments. They work together to help the body function properly.
The three major subdivisions of extracellular fluid in the body are interstitial fluid, plasma, and transcellular fluid. Interstitial fluid surrounds cells, plasma is the fluid component of blood, and transcellular fluid is found in cavities such as cerebrospinal, synovial, and peritoneal fluids.
Transcellular fluid includes the water and electrolytes within the body's specialized compartments, such as cerebrospinal fluid, synovial fluid, and intraocular fluid. It is separate from the more generalized extracellular and intracellular fluid compartments.
Sodium. Sodium is a major electrolyte that helps regulate water balance in the body by controlling fluid movement between compartments. It plays a key role in maintaining proper hydration levels and overall electrolyte balance.
Fluid flow between body compartments is determined by a combination of factors such as hydrostatic pressure, osmotic pressure, and permeability of the membrane separating the compartments. These factors influence the movement of water and solutes to maintain fluid balance and osmolarity in different parts of the body.
Sodium (Na+) is the most significant solute in determining the distribution of water among fluid compartments through osmosis. It plays a critical role in regulating fluid balance in the body by influencing the movement of water between cells and the extracellular fluid compartments.
Perilymph is a fluid present in the scala vestibuli and scala tympani which are the perilymph compartments of the inner ear. It has the same ionic concentration as the extracellular fluid present in the entire body
Interstitial compartments refer to the spaces or areas between cells in tissues where interstitial fluid circulates. This fluid contains nutrients, hormones, and waste products that are exchanged between cells and blood vessels. Interstitial compartments play a crucial role in maintaining the overall homeostasis of the body.
The kidneys primarily regulate the movement of water and electrolytes between fluid compartments in the body. They remove waste products, control blood pressure, and maintain electrolyte balance by filtering blood and producing urine.
The primary means of water movement between fluid compartments in the body is osmosis, which involves the movement of water across semipermeable membranes to maintain a balance of fluids and solutes between compartments. Additionally, water movement can also be influenced by factors such as hydrostatic pressure and oncotic pressure gradients.
Fat compartments of the human body and lean compartments of the human body.