CHAPTER OUTLINE
■ PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES.OF SOLUTIONS
Diffusion
Osmosis and Osmotic Pressure
Tone of Solutions
Interconversion of Units of Measurement
■ DISTRIBUTION OF BODY WATER
Total Body Water and Fluid Compartments
Intracellular and Extracellular Fluid
Water Movement between Fluid Compartments
■ WATER BALANCE
Water Gain
Water Loss
Water Requirements
■ DEHYDRATION, THIRST, AND WATER INTAKE
Dehydration
Stimulus for Thirst
Relief of Thirst
■ ADAPTATION TO WATER LACK
Camels
Sheep and Donkeys
Water is the most abundant constituent of the body fluids, about 60% of the total body weight.
It is the solvent for the many chemicals of the body and the solutions thus formed provide the diffusion media for the body cells. The physical properties of water make it ideal for this transport function. It has a relatively high specific heat, whereby heat from the cells is absorbed with a minimum of temperature increase. Water also provides the lubrication necessary for minimizing friction associated with fluid flow, cell movement, and movement of body parts. In addition to these physical properties of water, an understanding of the physicochemical properties of aqueous solutions is fundamental when considering the many physiologic phenomena, which include maintenance of cell size, kidney function in the production of urine, respiratory gas movement, the generation of nerve impulses, capillary dynamics, and many more. In the practice of veterinary medicine, knowledge about solutions is utilized in planning treatment regimens for fluid replacement and electrolyte loss.
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