body fluid: refers to body water and dissolved substances.

Fulid accounts for 45-70% of

body weight (45% in old age, 50% in females, 60 in males)
Intracellular fluid (ICF): 2/3 of fluid located within cells; averages 25L.
extracellular fluid (ECF):
the remaining 1/3 of all body fluids are separated into two distinct compartments
(whose walls are semi-permeable membranes)
interstitial fluid (12L) and plasma (3L); both compartments together (15L)
Edema: atypical accumulation of excess interstitial fluid (swelling within tissues)
There needs to be an 30% increase in interstitial fluid, before edema will be detected
S/S: increase in fluid in the interstitial spaces (swelling), increase fluid may impair tissue
function due to increase distance between capillaries and cells (O2 and nutrients can't
reach cells)
1. Cause: (many factors can contribute to edema)
any event that enhances movement of fluids out of blood vessels into tissues, or
retards movement and causes back-up of blood into capillaries will cause edema
increase of capillary permeability as in certain allergic response (inflammatory
response)
elevated intra-capillary pressure (hydrostatic pressure)
--due to increased arterial dilation
--blockage of veins
--increase venous pressure and/or increased flow to capillaries
--pressure will lead to increased filtration rate (more fluid into interstitium)
increase interstitial fluid colloid osmotic pressure due to blocked lymphatics:
--increase proteins in interstitial space
--increase proteins spilling into interstitium (result of trauma, blister) decrease
plasma
decrease plasma colloid osmotic pressure (in capillary) due to loss of excess
protein in urine, e.g. kidney disease
with long-term edema there may be decrease blood volume leading do a decrease
in blood pressure.