Edexcel Level 3 BTEC Nationals in Health and Social Care

UNIT 13: PHYSIOLOGY OF FLUID BALANCEUnit content1 Understand the microstructure of a typical animal cellCell structure: as visible under light and electron microscope; nuclear and cellmembranes (as a phospholipid bilayer), nucleus, nucleolus, chromosomes, DNA;m-RNA, t-RNA, endoplasmic reticulum (rough, smooth), ribosomes, Golgi body,mitochondria, other microstructures, eg lysosomes, centrioles, ciliaFunctions: nuclear and cell membranes, nucleus, chromosomes, endoplasmicreticulum (rough, smooth), ribosomes, Golgi body, mitochondria, others, eg ciliaCell types: eg epithelial, connective, muscle, nervous2 Understand the movement of materials into and out of cellsStates of matter: solid, liquid, gasMaterials: particulate, ionic, in solution, relevant colloidal forms, eg protein sols,emulsionsMovement of materials: diffusion, facilitated diffusion, osmosis, active transport,endocytosis, exocytosis; factors affecting movementInfluences on movement of materials: size, distance, temperature, concentrationgradient, osmotic potential, electrochemical gradient, permeability of cellmembrane, channel proteins, carrier molecules3 Understand the distribution and constituents of fluids in the human bodyConstituents of body fluids: water; solutes, eg glucose, urea; electrolytes —acids, bases, saltsRole of electrolytes: essential minerals, in control of osmosis/osmotic pressure,maintenance of acid-base balanceAcid-base balance: pH; importance of maintaining hydrogen ion concentration inbody fluids; buffer systems, eg carbonic acid, phosphate, proteinRole of water: constituent of body fluids; in relation to properties, eg specificheat capacity, as a solventDistribution of water: intracellular, extracellular, eg plasma, lymph,intercellular; role of intercellular fluid in homeostasis182BN018467 – Specification – Edexcel Level 3 BTEC Nationals in Health and Social Care– Issue 1 – February 2007 © Edexcel Limited 2007