Chapter 6, Problem 1aCP

Describe the distribution of fluid in the body.

Summary Introduction

To review:

The distribution of fluids in the body.

Introduction:

The biological fluids of the body include components such as blood plasma, blood serum, urine, and saliva. Water is an essential fluid in the human body. The composition of the fluid is different for different age groups, such as 75 percent of the body weight in children, 55 percent in adults and 45 percent in elderly individuals.

Explanation of Solution

The water content is divided into two components, in the body: the intracellular compartment contains about 67 percent of the total water in the body, which is contained within the cells. The remaining 33 percent is contained within the extracellular compartment. The 20 percent of the extracellular fluid is contained within the vessels of the cardiovascular system where it constitutes the fluid termed as blood plasma. The remaining 80 percent of the fluid is located outside the vascular system and makes the fluid located within the tissues, which is termed as interstitial fluid.