Reference no: EM133491529
Question: Explain what is meant by the terms fluid balance, electrolyte balance, and acid-base balance, and discuss their importance for homeostasis. List the most frequent threats to acid-base balance, and explain how the body responds when the pH of body fluids varies outside normal limits.
Case Study:
Fluid balance: Fluid balance is an important aspect of homeostatis which refers to the maintenance of correct amount of water in the body of an organism. The fluid balance relies on the principle that water lost from the body via respiration, urination, defection or sweating should be equal to the water gained into the body via drinking or eating (National Library of Medicine, n.d.).
electrolyte balance: this refers to the correct concentration of electrolytes such as sodium ion,, calcium ions, potassium ions, chloride ions, phosphate ions and magnesium ions in the blood, urine as well as body fluids.
Acid base balance: It refers to a balance between the acidity and alkalinity of the blood plasma by exchange of hydrogen ions.
Fluid balance, electrolyte balance and acid base balance are all important aspects for homeostatis. Homeostatis refers to the regulatory system of our body that maintains variable factors such as water, electrolyte and acid base composition of body fluids nearly constant. Fluid balance helps to maintain a balance of water in our body (Libretexts,2020). Osmolarity is regulated by intake and excretion of ions from the water. Acid base balance helps to maintain proper pH of body fluids. When the body fluids become acidic as a result of metabolic activities, exchange of hydrogen ions takes place such that a balance is maintained.
The most frequent threats to acid base balance are: Acidosis and Alkalosis. Acid base balance is evaluated by pH, carbon dioxide (acid) level and bicarbonate (base) level on the blood. Lungs, kidneys and buffer systems in our body help to maintain the acid base balance. Carbon dioxide level increases in the blood due to excretion of wastes of metabolic processes. This leads to decrease in pH. The lungs immediately remove carbon dioxide from the blood via signaling from the brain which increase the speed of breathing. This helps to restore the correct pH of blood. The kidneys also excrete out excess acids or bases to maintain correct pH. Carbonic acid and bicarbonate ion is a buffer system that helps maintain correct pH of blood.