extracellular fluid

extracellular fluid

 in biology, body fluid that is not contained in cells. It is found in blood, in lymph, in body cavities lined with serous (moisture-exuding) membrane, in the cavities and channels of the brain and spinal cord, and in muscular and other body tissues. It differs from intracellular fluid (fluid within the cells) in that it generally has a high concentration of sodium and low concentration of potassium, while intracellular fluid is high in potassium and low in sodium. The fluid is often secreted by cells to provide a constant environment for cellular operations.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Extracellular fluid — (ECF) usually denotes all body fluid outside of cells. The remainder is called intracellular fluid.In some animals, including mammals, the extracellular fluid can be divided into two major subcompartments, interstitial fluid and blood plasma. The …   Wikipedia

  • extracellular fluid — (ECF) a general term for all the body fluids outside the cells, such as interstitial fluid, plasma, lymph, and cerebrospinal fluid. Extracellular fluid consists of ultrafiltrates of the blood plasma and transcellular fluid (fluid produced by… …   Medical dictionary

  • extracellular fluid — noun liquid containing proteins and electrolytes including the liquid in blood plasma and interstitial fluid the body normally has about 15 quarts of extracellular fluid • Syn: ↑ECF • Hypernyms: ↑liquid body substance, ↑bodily fluid, ↑body fluid …   Useful english dictionary

  • Fluid compartments — in the mammalian body broadly comprise two compartments, each with several subdivisions: intracellular fluid, which makes up approximately 60 65% of body water, and extracellular fluid, which makes up the other 35 40% of body water. (For all… …   Wikipedia

  • Fluid balance — is the concept of human homeostasis that the amount of fluid lost from the body is equal to the amount of fluid taken in. Euvolemia is the state of normal body fluid volume.Water is necessary for all life on Earth. Humans can survive for several… …   Wikipedia

  • extracellular — adj. located or occurring outside of a living cell or cells; as, extracellular fluid. Opposite of {intracellular}. [WordNet 1.5] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • fluid — fluidal, adj. fluidly, fluidally, adv. fluidness, n. /flooh id/, n. 1. a substance, as a liquid or gas, that is capable of flowing and that changes its shape at a steady rate when acted upon by a force tending to change its shape. adj. 2.… …   Universalium

  • Extracellular — In cell biology, molecular biology and related fields, the word extracellular (or sometimes extracellular space) means outside the cell . This space is usually taken to be outside the plasma membranes, and occupied by fluid. The term is used in… …   Wikipedia

  • extracellular — Outside the cells. * * * ex·tra·cel·lu·lar .ek strə sel yə lər adj situated or occurring outside a cell or the cells of the body <extracellular digestion> <extracellular enzymes> ex·tra·cel·lu·lar·ly adv * * * adj. situated or… …   Medical dictionary

  • extracellular — adj. situated or occurring outside cells; for example, extracellular fluid is the fluid surrounding cells …   The new mediacal dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”