covers lungs, heart, and abdominal organs (visceral membrane) and internal surfaces of body cavity wall (parietal membrane)

fluid of the lungs

fluid of the heart

fluid of the abdominal organs

single layer covering the thin layer of connective tissue lining the cavities

four factors that control formation and absorption of fluid

colloid osmotic pressure that opposes ultrafiltration

forces plasma ultrafiltrate to form in cavity

regulates rate of ultrafiltrate formation and its protein composition; increase causes increased movement of protein

causes further movement of fluid into cavity

accumulation of fluid in a body cavity indicating an abnormal or pathologic process

percutaneous puncture of a body cavity for aspiration of fluid

to obtain pleural fluid

for pericardial fluid

for peritoneal fluid

an effusion in peritoneal cavity

same as peritoneal fluid

collected for comparison purposes against body fluid

results from systemic disease that causes an increase in hydrostatic pressure or a decrease in plasma oncotic pressure; noninflammatory; pleural and peritoneal

results from inflammatory processes that increase permeability of capillary endothelium or a decrease in absorption by lymphatic system; infections, neoplasm, trauma, inflammatory; pleural and peritoneal

clear, pale yellow; viscosity similar to serum; do not clot

usually cloudy; various colors: yellow, green, or pink to red, may have shimmer or sheen; can form clots

large numbers of white blood cells, other cells, chyle, and/or lipids; milky after centrifugation indicates chyle

caused by obstruction or damage to lymphatic system

chronic effusions can be differentiated by lipid content

high triglycerides and chylomicrons present

low triglycerides and no chylomicrons

RBC's decrease later in collection; small clots may form

blood homogeneously distributed; no clotting

predominate in most exudates of pleural and peritoneal fluid

predominate in pleural effusions from TB, neoplasms, and systemic diseases

conditions that cause increase in hydrostatic pressure and decreased oncotic pressure of pleural and peritoneal transudates

conditions that cause increased capillary permeability in pleural and peritoneal exudates

conditions that cause decreased lymphatic absorption in pleural and peritoneal exudates

conditions that cause increased capillary permeability due to changes in parietal membrane of pericardial fluid not categorized as transudates or exudates

assist in differentiating fluid as transudate or exudate, which aids in establishing cause of fluid accumulation

possible chemistry tests of body fluids

fluid/serum protein ratio of transudate

fluid/serum protein ratio of exudate

fluid/serum lactate dehydrogenase ratio of transudate

fluid/serum lactate dehydrogenase ratio of exudate

only low-fluid amount is significant

high pleural or peritoneal fluid amylase associates with pancreatitis, esophageal rupture, gastric duodenal perforation, and metastatic disease

use to identify chylous effusions

abnormally low helps identify pleural exudates caused by pneumonia or lung abscess

a tumor marker