When excessive fluid accumulates in the interstitial space, edema develops. Together with the vascular space, the interstitial space comprises the extracellular space. Interstitial refers to a 'small opening or space between objects'. The interstitial compartment (also called extravascular compartment or tissue space) is the space that surrounds the cells of a given tissue. In humans, the intracellular compartment contains on average about 28 litres of fluid, and under ordinary circumstances remains in osmotic equilibrium with the ECF.Įxtracellular Fluid Interstitial Compartment Intracellular fluid is found inside the two-layered plasma membrane of the body's cells, and is the matrix in which cellular organelles are suspended, and chemical reactions take place. Intracellular fluid (ICF), which makes up approximately 60-65% of body water, andĮxtracellular fluid (ECF), which makes up the other 35-40% of body water (for all practical purposes, the only solvent in the body is water). Overviewįluid compartments in the mammalian body broadly comprise two compartments, each with several subdivisions:

List of terms related to Fluid compartmentsĮditor-In-Chief: C. Risk calculators and risk factors for Fluid compartmentsĬauses & Risk Factors for Fluid compartmentsĭiagnostic studies for Fluid compartments US National Guidelines Clearinghouse on Fluid compartmentsĭirections to Hospitals Treating Fluid compartments Ongoing Trials on Fluid compartments at Clinical Ĭlinical Trials on Fluid compartments at Google Most cited articles on Fluid compartmentsĪrticles on Fluid compartments in N Eng J Med, Lancet, BMJĬochrane Collaboration on Fluid compartments Most recent articles on Fluid compartments

Diagram body fluid compartments