Definitions

Human Physiology

Lesson 04 : Water Compartment & Homeostasis

Definitions

Total body water: is total amount of water present in the body. In average human about 65-70% of body weight is water only.

Extra cellular fluid: is that fluid which is present outside the cells for example plasma. Lymph, interstitial fluid etc. It constitutes about 15-20% of body weight.

Intracellular fluid: is the fluid present inside various body cells. It constitutes about 50% of body weight.

Homeostasis is defined as maintenance of the normal uniform conditions prevalent around the cells in which the cells are functioning.

Sweating: is secretion of sweat from sweat glands under hot environment.

Shiverring: are rapid contractions of muscles underlying skin in order to generate heat in cold conditions.

Dehydration: is deficiency of water in the body fluid compartments especially extra cellular fluid.

Osmosis: is movement of water from a region of low solute concentration to higher solute concentration through semi permeable membrane.

Osmotic pressure is the pressure that must be applied on a solution to prevent the flow of pure solvent into it when two are separated by a semi permeable membrane.

Hydrostatic pressure: is force exerted by the fluid on wall of blood vessels or compartment in which it is filled.

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Last modified: Tuesday, 10 April 2012, 5:08 AM