An electrolyte solution can be formed when certain mineral salts are dissolved in water. Electrolyte solutions were originally named because of their ability to conduct electricity. Many of the fluids in the body are electrolyte solutions with dissolved minerals.
For example, table salt (sodium chloride) can easily dissolve in water to form an electrolyte solution. There are three important areas of the body that contain electrolytes in solution. Blood plasma is the liquid component of blood. Blood cells are suspended in plasma. Blood plasma is an electrolyte solution that carries blood proteins.
A second electrolyte solution is called intracellular fluid (intra means “within,” so “within the cells”). Much of the fluid in the body is inside the cells. The third location of electrolytes in the body is in the interstitial fluid (inter means “between”). This interstitial fluid bathes and surrounds the cells. The fluid outside of cells is called extracellular fluid (extra means “outside”) and includes both blood plasma and interstitial fluid.
Types of Fluids in the Body
Intracellular Fluid is found inside cells.
Blood Plasma is found inside blood vessels.
Interstitial Fluid is found between the cells.
Extracellular Fluid includes both blood plasma and interstitial fluid.
Extracellular fluids, including plasma and interstitial fluid, transport nutrients to cells and transport wastes away from cells. The intracellular fluid acts as a solvent to facilitate the chemical reactions in the cell that maintain life. Intracellular fluid comprises about 40 percent of body weight, as seen in Figure 7-4. Interstitial fluid makes up about 16 percent of body weight. Plasma makes up only about 4 percent of body weight.
Figure 7-4 Percentage of body weight in plasma, interstitial fluid, and intracellular fluid.
For example, table salt (sodium chloride) can easily dissolve in water to form an electrolyte solution. There are three important areas of the body that contain electrolytes in solution. Blood plasma is the liquid component of blood. Blood cells are suspended in plasma. Blood plasma is an electrolyte solution that carries blood proteins.
A second electrolyte solution is called intracellular fluid (intra means “within,” so “within the cells”). Much of the fluid in the body is inside the cells. The third location of electrolytes in the body is in the interstitial fluid (inter means “between”). This interstitial fluid bathes and surrounds the cells. The fluid outside of cells is called extracellular fluid (extra means “outside”) and includes both blood plasma and interstitial fluid.
Types of Fluids in the Body
Intracellular Fluid is found inside cells.
Blood Plasma is found inside blood vessels.
Interstitial Fluid is found between the cells.
Extracellular Fluid includes both blood plasma and interstitial fluid.
Extracellular fluids, including plasma and interstitial fluid, transport nutrients to cells and transport wastes away from cells. The intracellular fluid acts as a solvent to facilitate the chemical reactions in the cell that maintain life. Intracellular fluid comprises about 40 percent of body weight, as seen in Figure 7-4. Interstitial fluid makes up about 16 percent of body weight. Plasma makes up only about 4 percent of body weight.
Figure 7-4 Percentage of body weight in plasma, interstitial fluid, and intracellular fluid.
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