Extracellular Fluid (Noun)
Meaning
Liquid containing proteins and electrolytes including the liquid in blood plasma and interstitial fluid; "the body normally has about 15 quarts of extracellular fluid".
Classification
Nouns denoting body parts.
Examples
- The body's extracellular fluid is the medium for chemical communication between cells, allowing hormone molecules to travel from endocrine glands to reach their target cells.
- Movement of fluid between intracellular and extracellular fluid compartments is tightly regulated in order to maintain osmotic balance.
- In the average 70-kg adult human male, extracellular fluid accounts for approximately 20% of the body weight.
- Extracellular fluid is lost due to various reasons such as diseases, injury and surgery, where replacement of such losses is critical, otherwise dehydration and death may ensue.
- An understanding of the composition of extracellular fluid, including that in the bloodstream, interstitial fluid and cerebrospinal fluid, is essential to design the best infusion products.