The human body and water
The body is 60% water by weight
Our bodies contain a lot of water - 60% of an adult's weight, and 80% of a newborn's weight, is body fluid. In other words, the body of a 70 kg man contains about 42 liters of water.
- *Minerals are inorganic substances other than oxygen, carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen that are necessary for the body to function.
The function of body fluid
The water we drink is absorbed by the intestines, and circulated throughout the body in the form of body fluids such as blood. These perform various functions that keep us alive. They deliver oxygen and nutrients to the cells, and take away waste materials, which are then eliminated with urination. When the body temperature rises, blood circulation to the skin increases, enabling heat dissipation though sweating, helping to keep the body at a constant temperature.
Functions of body fluid
| Transport (of body fluid) | Oxygen and nutrients are distributed throughout the body, and waste material is eliminated from the body. |
|---|---|
| Temperature regulation | Blood circulation to the skin and sweating increase heat dissipation, helping to keep the body at a constant temperature. |
| Maintain constancy of internal environment | Body fluid properties are kept constant to maintain an efficient metabolism. |
The flow of body fluids
The functions of body fluids
Just as water circulates on the planet, it also circulates inside the human body in the form of body fluids. In both cases, it is essential to maintaining life.
