ANATOMY

Detailed explanation-1: -The main component of the extracellular fluid (ECF) is the interstitial fluid, or tissue fluid, which surrounds the cells in the body. The other major component of the ECF is the intravascular fluid of the circulatory system called blood plasma. The remaining small percentage of ECF includes the transcellular fluid.

Detailed explanation-2: -The extracellular fluid is mainly cations and anions. Plasma is mostly water and dissolved proteins, but also contains metabolic blood gasses, hormones, and glucose. The composition of transcellular fluid varies, but some of its main electrolytes include sodium ions, chloride ions, and bicarbonate ions.

Detailed explanation-3: -The extracellular fluid, in turn, is composed of blood plasma, interstitial fluid, lymph and transcellular fluid (e.g. cerebrospinal fluid, synovial fluid, aqueous humour, serous fluid, gut fluid, etc.). The interstitial fluid and the blood plasma are the major components of the extracellular fluid.

Detailed explanation-4: -The ECF consists of all the fluids located outside the cells and includes the plasma (0.05 l/kg), interstitial fluid and lymph (0.15 l/kg), and the transcellular fluids (Edelman and Leibman, 1959; Rose, 1984; Saxton and Seldin, 1986).

Detailed explanation-5: -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.