water balance
Body moisture regulation
Water balance is the equilibrium between water intake and water loss in a body or system.
In physiology, it refers to maintaining proper hydration—the balance of fluids consumed versus fluids excreted through urine, sweat, and respiration: Athletes must monitor their water balance during competition.
In ecology and hydrology, water balance describes the relationship between precipitation, evaporation, runoff, and storage in a given area.
Maintaining internal solute balance
- electrolytesConducting ions in solution
- kidneysBlood-filtering organ pair
- sodiumEleventh element, highly reactive
- potassiumNineteenth element, symbol K
antidiuretic hormone · vasopressin · aldosterone · nephron · reabsorption · blood plasma · dehydration · overhydration
Drainage area boundary
- hydrologyScience of water distribution
- aquiferGroundwater-bearing geological formation
- evapotranspirationWater loss from land surfaces
- precipitationAtmospheric water deposit
groundwater · runoff · infiltration · catchment area · transpiration · percolation · riparian · wetland
Replacing lost water
- thirstNeed for fluid
- electrolytesConducting ions in solution
- beveragesDrinkable liquids
- sports drinksElectrolyte-replenishing athletic beverages
sweat · moisture · urine output · fluid replacement · drinking · replenishment
osmoregulation
Maintaining internal solute balance
- electrolytesConducting ions in solution
- kidneysBlood-filtering organ pair
- sodiumEleventh element, highly reactive
potassium · antidiuretic hormone · vasopressin · aldosterone · nephron · reabsorption · blood plasma · dehydration · overhydration · aquaporins
watershed
Drainage area boundary
- hydrologyScience of water distribution
- aquiferGroundwater-bearing geological formation
- evapotranspirationWater loss from land surfaces
precipitation · groundwater · runoff · infiltration · catchment area · transpiration · percolation · riparian · wetland · recharge
rehydration
Replacing lost water
- thirstNeed for fluid
- electrolytesConducting ions in solution
- beveragesDrinkable liquids
sports drinks · sweat · moisture · urine output · fluid replacement · drinking · replenishment
- groundwater modelingtransmissivity, boundary conditions, finite element, drawdown, confined aquifer
- kidney functionstubular reabsorption, reabsorption, secretion, excretion, creatinine clearance
- water resourcesfreshwater, aquifers, aquifer, watersheds, groundwater
- cell biologycell membrane, cell division, cytoplasm, ribosome, mitochondria
- homeostasishomeostasis, negative feedback, feedback loop, feedback loops, positive feedback
- hydrologyrivers, streamflow, aquifers, aquifer, lakes
water balancedehydration
Excessive fluid loss
fluid imbalance · overhydration · hyperhydration · electrolyte imbalance · desiccation
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