Body-Fluid Physiology: The Role of Potassium in Clinical Disturbances of Body Water and Electrolyte

Abstract

FIVE years ago the studies on tissue composition were summarized, and an attempt was made to relate changes in tissue composition to clinical disturbances in the balance of water and electrolyte.¹ It was pointed out that sodium is known to be present in variable amounts in the cells and that shifts of sodium from extracellular to intracellular fluids and vice versa affect the acid–base equilibrium of blood. Furthermore, the amount of potassium in the cells is also variable, and cellular potassium usually varies inversely with intracellular sodium in muscles. Evidence was brought out that the composition of the cells leads . . .