Question

Answer the following questions related to the topic of fluids and electrolytes:

1. What are fluids and electrolytes? What are its main functions?

2. What are the laboratory tests that allow you to measure the levels of electrolytes in the blood?

3. What are the normal values for sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and chlorine?

Answer 1

1. Fluids– Fluids mean "that can flow". In human body fluids are known as body fluids or biofluids, which are liquids within the human body. The body fluids are mainly classified into Intracellular fluid and Extracellular fluid.

Functions of fluids–

1. Helps in delivering oxygen and nutrients to the body cells and take away waste material from them.
2. Helps in maintaining homeostasis.
3. Helps to keep the body temperature constant.

Electrolytes– Electrolytes are the minerals, more specifically cations and anions, present in varying concentration in intracellular and extracellular fluid.

Functions of electrolytes–

1. Electrolytes are the main solutes in the body fluids for maintenance of acid-base equilibrium.
2. Electrolytes maintain the proper osmolality and volume of body fluids.
3. The concentration of certain electrolyte determines their specific physiological functions e.g. the effect of calcium ions on neuromuscular excitability.

2.Laboratory tests to measure the level of electrolytes in blood–

1. Blood test to know serum levels of specific or interrelated electrolytes (electrolyte pannel).
2. pH of blood
3. Serum osmolality test
4. Fluid volume test (as they maintain the volume of body fluids).

3. Normal levels (blood)–

1. Sodium= 136-145 mmol/L
2. Potassium= 3.5-5.0 mmol/L
3. Calcium= 9-10.5 mg/dL
4. Magnesium= 2-3 mg/dL
5. Phosphorus= 3-4.5 mg/dL
6. Chloride= 98-106 mmol/L