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Learning objectives
After reading this article you should be able to:
C
understand how total body water is divided into compartments
and describe how they can be measured experimentally
C
compare the ionic composition of the intracellular and extracellular compartments
C
quantify the typical daily input and output of body fluids of a
70-kg man
C
understand how different types of administered fluids
distribute across these compartments
C
describe the detector and effector mechanisms contributing to
endogenous fluid volume homeostasis
C
understand the regulation of sodium in the body and the
relationship with volume and potassium regulation
Benjamin R Waterhouse
Andrew D Farmery
Abstract
The water contained in the body is divided amongst compartments of
differing sizes and compositions. The dynamic balance across these compartments is an essential component of normal physiology. Here, the
calculation of these volumes by measuring the dilution of markers able
to permeate specific compartments is considered. Furthermore, the potential disadvantages to the approach are discussed. The differences in
ionic concentration between intracellular and extracellular fluid are quantified and the effects of greater relative protein concentration within cells
are also considered. To illustrate daily fluid balance in a healthy individual, a typical intake and output over 24 hours is quantified before consideration of iatrogenic contributions to this equilibrium. The way in which
clinically administered fluids of varying compositions affect the fluid compartments is subsequently discussed. The endogenous processes contributing to volume homeostasis are then deliberated including the detection
of fluid imbalance through intracellular and extracellular systems as well
as the hypothalamic and renal effector mechanisms. Finally, the regulation
of sodium is discussed with examination of the mechanisms controlling
natriuresis and the reciprocity with potassium balance.
Keywords Extracellular fluid; fluid balance; fluid compartments; intracellular fluid; ion composition; sodium homeostasis; volume homeostasis; volume of distribution
Royal College of Anaesthetists CPD Matrix: 1A01
Fluid compartments
Fluid volumes
The distribution of body mass for a typical 70-kg man can be
seen in Figure 1. Although approximate, these values can be
useful when considering fluid balance. The majority of the total
body water (TBW) exists within cells in the intracellular fluid
(ICF). While only a third is external to cell membranes in the socalled extracellular fluid (ECF). About 75% of the ECF is outside
the vascular system, primarily in the form of interstitial fluid. It
also includes a small volume that can be considered transcellular, for example cerebrospinal fluid and intra-ocular fluids.
These are defined separately owing to their secretory origins and
enclosure within epithelium-lined cavities. However, as their
water content is not freely available for fluid exchange these will
not be considered in detail. The remaining quarter of ECF
Eq 1
ME
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PHYSIOLOGY
70-kg man
60%
[42 litres]
water
2/3
[28 litres]
Intracellular fluid (ICF)
40%
[28 kg]
non-water
1/3
[14 litres]
Extracellular fluid (ECF)
3/4
[10.5 litres)
Extravascular fluid
1/4
[3.5 litres]
Intravascular fluid
Figure 1
LogC
Fluid composition
The fluids in the extracellular and intracellular compartments
show marked differences in their ion content. The relative concentrations of the major positive (cations) and negative (anions)
ions can be seen in Figure 3. Overall, in each compartment there
is an equal positive and negative charge. In addition, the total
osmolarity must be equal across plasma and the intracellular
space otherwise, as the cell membrane is freely permeable to
water, osmosis would occur until equilibration is achieved.
The concentrations given in Figure 3 represent plasma water
and the intracellular fluid of myocytes as illustrative examples.
However, it should be noted that due to the differences between
differentiated cell types and their functions, the fluid composition
of the intracellular fluid is highly variable. For example, erythrocytes contain high concentrations of chloride ions and even
Time
Figure 2
Eq 2
Equilibrium reached
M
C0
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PHYSIOLOGY
CI
HCO 3
Protein
Other
Extracellular fluid
Cations
Anions
Intracellular fluid
Cations
Anions
10
3
7
45
111
159
153
155
27
18
9
4.3
5.4
2.2
40
Figure 3
Fluid balance
The typical fluid balance for a person undergoing a semisedentary lifestyle is set out in Table 1. As might be expected,
oral intake accounts largely for the input but is supplemented by
the oxidation of compounds to produce carbon dioxide and
water. Urine is the primary output of fluid but a large proportion
is lost through the skin as perspiration and the lungs but due to
reabsorption in the large bowel water content of faeces is relatively low.
It can be appreciated that in even moderate exercise an increase in water loss would occur through the lungs secondary to
hyperventilation and the skin as part of thermoregulation. This
demands an increased intake as well as shifting the relative
contributions of the factors in Table 1.
Administered fluids
The control of fluid balance is self-evidently important. Hypovolaemia results in hypoperfusion which may in turn result in
organ dysfunction. Conversely, hypervolaemia and consequent
oedema may also result in dysfunction. When considering fluid
replacement therapy the property of the infused fluid determines
the distribution of that fluid within and between body compartments. Most patients undergoing general anaesthesia will receive
some form of intravenous (IV) fluid and knowledge of the
mechanisms of fluid distribution is key to successful therapy.
Output
1200 ml
1000 ml
300 ml
2500 ml
Urine
Skin/lungs
Faeces
Total
1500 ml
900 ml
100 ml
2500 ml
Table 1
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PHYSIOLOGY
ml to plasma volume. This can be seen experimentally, as dilution of albumin following dextrose infusion resolves within
1 hour confirming the transient effect on plasma volume.
FrankStarling
curve
Guyton curve
Pmcf
Pv
Figure 4
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PHYSIOLOGY
471
PHYSIOLOGY
Glomerular filtration
An increase in ECF volume leads to an increase in renal perfusion, the filtered volume at the glomerulus, the GFR, and sodium
load presented to the proximal tubule is also increased resulting
in a greater loss of sodium and water. This mechanism is known
as pressure-natriuresis and represents another important entanglement of sodium/volume homeostasis.
Potassium homeostasis
Normal intake of potassium in food is about 100 mmol/day;
around 10% is lost in the faeces and 90% in the urine. Unlike
sodium only negligible quantities of potassium are present in
sweat. As discussed above, aldosterone is released in response to
hyperkalaemia and acts to increase the urinary excretion of potassium. When plasma potassium rises acutely, such as following
major tissue damage, this mechanism stimulates the kidney to
quickly excrete the excess. Furthermore, insulin and catecholamines both stimulate the Na/K-ATPase pump on basolateral
cell membranes, promoting uptake into the cells, producing a fall
in plasma concentration. To combat hypokalaemia, aldosterone
secretion is directly inhibited and potassium excretion by the
collecting duct diminishes.
It is important to recognize that while the nephron can reabsorb sodium, this is only achieved by the concomitant excretion
of potassium or hydrogen to maintain electrochemical balance.
Hence the need for adequate potassium supplementation in fluid
regimens to prevent hyponatraemia discussed above.
A
Glomerulotubular balance
Glomerulotubular balance is a process whereby the proximal
tubule and the loop of Henle increase their rates of sodium
reabsorption in response to decreased GFR so that excess losses
do not occur. For example following haemorrhage, the reduced
filtered sodium load is absorbed more completely.
Renineangiotensinealdosterone system (RAAS)
Renin production by the juxtaglomerular granular cells is sensitive to extracellular osmolarity. Renin is then able to convert
angiotensinogen to angiotensin I, which is further processed by
angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) to produce angiotensin II,
which is a powerful vasoconstrictor. Seminal work by Guyton
and Hall in 1980, demonstrated that in normal dogs increased
sodium intake results in increased excretion of sodium within a
tightly regulated mean arterial pressure, Pa. However, when
normal renal mechanisms were disrupted by infusion of angiotensin II or ACE inhibitor captopril, Pa depended markedly on
sodium loading. Angiotensin II also produces an upward shift in
the pressureenatriuresis curve therefore maintaining sodium
homeostasis at the expense of volume regulation. In addition to
this, it is known to act directly on circumventricular neurons to
stimulate ADH secretion and thirst. Finally, angiotensin II stimulates the synthesis and release of aldosterone.
FURTHER READING
Barrett KE, Boitano S, Barman SM, Brooks HL. Ganongs review of medical
physiology. 23rd edn. Lange, 2009.
Hall JE. Guyton and Hall textbook of medical physiology. 13th edn.
Saunders, 2015.
Pocock G, Richards CD, Richards D. Human physiology: the basis of
medicine, (Oxford Core Texts). 4th edn. Oxford University Press, 2013.
Practice points
Aldosterone
Aldosterone is considered the main effector of reabsorption in the
long-term control of sodium balance however its regulation is
complex. Aldosterone secretion is controlled by angiotensin II, ultimately a form of renal control as well as by adrenocorticotropic
hormone released from the pituitary, representing a form of
neuroendocrine control. Furthermore, perfusion of the adrenal
cortex by plasma with low sodium, or high potassium, concentrations stimulates aldosterone secretion directly. Aldosterone increases reabsorption of the filtered sodium through the
mineralocorticoid receptor with actions as a transcription factor.
This results in upregulation of ENaC expression promoting collecting duct permeance to sodium, facilitating its retention. However,
recent work has revealed stimulation of inward currents within 60
seconds of administration suggesting multiple modi operandi.
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