kroppsvæskene

Kroppsvæskene, or bodily fluids, are liquids produced by living organisms that support essential physiological processes. In humans they are found inside cells (intracellular fluid) and in the spaces surrounding cells and organs (extracellular fluid). Extracellular fluids include plasma, interstitial fluid, lymph, and a range of specialized fluids such as cerebrospinal fluid, synovial fluid, pleural, peritoneal, and amniotic fluids, as well as digestive secretions like gastric juice, pancreatic juice, bile, and waste fluids such as urine.

The fluids serve multiple functions. They transport nutrients, gases, hormones, and waste products; provide lubrication and cushioning for joints and organs; participate in digestion and metabolism through secretions like gastric and pancreatic juice; contribute to temperature regulation via sweat; and support immune defense and signaling through components found in blood, lymph, mucus, tears, and other secretions.

Fluid balance is tightly regulated. Total body water accounts for about 60 percent of body weight in adults, with intracellular fluid comprising roughly two-thirds of this space and extracellular fluid about one-third. The extracellular compartment includes plasma, interstitial fluid, and other fluid types such as cerebrospinal, pleural, peritoneal, and amniotic fluids.

In medical contexts, bodily fluids are routinely analyzed or sampled to diagnose and monitor health, including blood tests, urine analysis, cerebrospinal fluid sampling, and synovial or amniotic fluid examinations. Disorders related to bodily fluids include dehydration, edema, and electrolyte imbalances, which can disrupt various physiological systems.