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Pharm Ch 24
Drugs for Fluid Balance, Electrolyte, and Acid-Base Disorders Key Terms
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| acidosis | occurs when the pH of the plasma falls below 7.35 |
| alkalosis | develops when the plasma pH rises above 7.45 |
| anions | negatively charged electrolytes |
| buffers | chemicals that help maintain normal body pH by neutralizing strong acids and bases |
| cations | positively charged electrolytes |
| colloids | proteins, starches, or other large molecules that remain in the blood for a long time because they are too large to easily cross the capillary membranes |
| crystalloids | IV solutions that contain electrolytes and other substances that closely mimic the body's ECF |
| electrolytes | ions that have positive and negative charges and are able to conduct electricity |
| extracellular fluid (ECF) compartment | one-third of body fluid resides outside cells here; divided into two parts: fluid in the plasma, or intravascular space, and fluid in the interstitial spaces between cells |
| hyperkalemia | serum potassium level greater than 5 mEq/L; may be caused by high consumption of potassium rich foods or dietary supplements, particularly when patients are taking potassium-sparing diuretics such as spironolactone |
| hypernatremia | sodium excess; occurs when serum sodium level rises above 145 mEq/L |
| hypokalemia | when serum potassium level falls below 3.5 mEq/L |
| hyponatremia | sodium deficiency; serum sodium level less than 135 mEq/L |
| intracellular fluid (ICF) compartment | contains water that is inside cells; accounts for 2/3 of total body water |
| osmolality | measure of number of dissolved particles, or solutes, in 1 kg (1L) of water |
| osmosis | water moves from areas of low solute concentration (low osmolality) to areas of high solute concentration (high osmolality) |
| pH | how the degree of acidity or alkalinity of a solution is measured |
| tonicity | the ability of a solution to cause a change in water movement across a membrane due to osmotic forces |