After you have studied this chapter, you should be able to:

1. Explain water and electrolyte balance, and discuss the importance of this balance.

2. Describe how the body fluids are distributed within compartments, how the fluid composition differs between compartments, and how the fluids move from one compartment to another.

3. List the routes by which water enters and leaves the body, and explain how water input and output are regulated.

4. Explain how electrolytes enter and leave the body, and how the input and output of electrolytes are regulated.

5. Explain acid-base balance.

6. Describe how hydrogen ion concentrations are expressed mathematically.

7. List the major sources of hydrogen ions in the body.

8. Distinguish between strong and weak acids and bases.

9. Explain how chemical buffer systems, the respiratory center, and the kidneys minimize changing pH values of the body fluids.

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