ABSTRACT

The composition and volume of body compartments Approximately two-thirds of the fluid in the body is located in the cells and is termed ‘intracellular fluid’. The other third is called extracellular fluid (Figure 19.1). Note that in the blood the fluid of the red cells is intracellular so that the extracellular compartment of the blood is the total blood volume minus the volume of red and white cells. The volumes of the major body compartments and clinical fluid balance are described in Chapter 14 to which reference should be made for details.