BasicNursingFoundationsofSkillsConceptsCha.pptVIP

Basic Nursing: Foundations of Skills Concepts Chapter 23 FLUID, ELECTROLYTE, ACID-BASE BALANCE Homeostasis The maintenance of the body’s internal environment within a narrow range of normal values. It is an ongoing process, with changes constantly occurring in the body. Maintaining homeostasis is essential to life. Chemical Organization Basic chemical and physical principles, shown below, are necessary to understand the higher levels of organization. Elements. Atoms. Molecules and Compounds. Ions. Water Water constitutes approximately 60% of the total body weight of an adult. It is involved in many of the physical and physiological process of the body. Fluctuations in the amount of water in the body can have harmful and even fatal consequences. Gases Two important gases in the body are oxygen and carbon dioxide. Acids, Bases, Salts, and pH Acids, bases, salts, and Ph are important for life. When blood pH falls below 7.35, acidosis occurs. When blood pH increases about 7.45, alkalosis occurs. Buffers Substances that attempt to maintain pH range or H+ ion concentration, in the presence of added acids or bases. Buffer Systems Bicarbonate buffer system (works to regulate pH in both intracellular and extracellular fluids). Phosphate buffer system (works to regulate the pH of intracellular fluid and fluid in kidney tubules). Protein buffer system (works to regulate pH inside cells, especially red blood cells). Substance Movement Substances must be able to both enter and leave cells. The ability of a membrane to permit substances to pass through it is called permeability. Substances move by passive or active transport. Types of Passive Transport Diffusion. Osmosis. Filtration. Diffusion The tendency of molecules to move from a region of higher molecular concentration to a region of lower molecular concentration until an equilibrium is reached. Osmosis The diffusion of water through a semi-permeable membrane from a region of higher