Are the chemical constituents of human bodily fluids similar to sea water?
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I have heard a comparison of human bodily fluids to sea water from various sources in the past. The most notable was a teacher who claimed, if I remember correctly, embryonic fluid is comparable in chemical content to sea water. I am wondering if this claim has any scientific basis. If not, is there another bodily fluid known for this characteristic? I tried doing some google searches and did not find any supporting evidence. If this is a myth, has anyone else heard such a claim and how it may have begun?
human-biology biochemistry
asked Dec 10 '18 at 2:06
takintoolongtakintoolong
1296
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add a comment |
$begingroup$
I have heard a comparison of human bodily fluids to sea water from various sources in the past. The most notable was a teacher who claimed, if I remember correctly, embryonic fluid is comparable in chemical content to sea water. I am wondering if this claim has any scientific basis. If not, is there another bodily fluid known for this characteristic? I tried doing some google searches and did not find any supporting evidence. If this is a myth, has anyone else heard such a claim and how it may have begun?
human-biology biochemistry
asked Dec 10 '18 at 2:06
takintoolongtakintoolong
1296
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
I also remember the teacher adding a disclaimer that it was not just any sample of sea water, rather an average or maybe seawater in the open ocean. She implied this comparison did not necessarily apply to various "sea water" bodies like bays or coastal areas.
$endgroup$
– takintoolong
Dec 11 '18 at 1:45
add a comment |
$begingroup$
I have heard a comparison of human bodily fluids to sea water from various sources in the past. The most notable was a teacher who claimed, if I remember correctly, embryonic fluid is comparable in chemical content to sea water. I am wondering if this claim has any scientific basis. If not, is there another bodily fluid known for this characteristic? I tried doing some google searches and did not find any supporting evidence. If this is a myth, has anyone else heard such a claim and how it may have begun?
human-biology biochemistry
asked Dec 10 '18 at 2:06
takintoolongtakintoolong
1296
$endgroup$
I have heard a comparison of human bodily fluids to sea water from various sources in the past. The most notable was a teacher who claimed, if I remember correctly, embryonic fluid is comparable in chemical content to sea water. I am wondering if this claim has any scientific basis. If not, is there another bodily fluid known for this characteristic? I tried doing some google searches and did not find any supporting evidence. If this is a myth, has anyone else heard such a claim and how it may have begun?
human-biology biochemistry
human-biology biochemistry
asked Dec 10 '18 at 2:06
takintoolongtakintoolong
1296
asked Dec 10 '18 at 2:06
takintoolongtakintoolong
1296
asked Dec 10 '18 at 2:06
takintoolongtakintoolong
1296
asked Dec 10 '18 at 2:06
takintoolongtakintoolong
1296
asked Dec 10 '18 at 2:06
takintoolongtakintoolong
1296
1296
$begingroup$
I also remember the teacher adding a disclaimer that it was not just any sample of sea water, rather an average or maybe seawater in the open ocean. She implied this comparison did not necessarily apply to various "sea water" bodies like bays or coastal areas.
$endgroup$
– takintoolong
Dec 11 '18 at 1:45
add a comment |
$begingroup$
I also remember the teacher adding a disclaimer that it was not just any sample of sea water, rather an average or maybe seawater in the open ocean. She implied this comparison did not necessarily apply to various "sea water" bodies like bays or coastal areas.
$endgroup$
– takintoolong
Dec 11 '18 at 1:45
$begingroup$
I also remember the teacher adding a disclaimer that it was not just any sample of sea water, rather an average or maybe seawater in the open ocean. She implied this comparison did not necessarily apply to various "sea water" bodies like bays or coastal areas.
$endgroup$
– takintoolong
Dec 11 '18 at 1:45
$begingroup$
I also remember the teacher adding a disclaimer that it was not just any sample of sea water, rather an average or maybe seawater in the open ocean. She implied this comparison did not necessarily apply to various "sea water" bodies like bays or coastal areas.
$endgroup$
– takintoolong
Dec 11 '18 at 1:45
add a comment |
1 Answer
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Let's just consider mineral salts, since obviously sea water does not contain animal proteins or cells, and (fortunately) our bodies don't contain phages, micro-algae etc.
Sea water is very salty; on average about 0.5mol/L of NaCl (the main salt dissolved in sea water).
On the other hand, human biological fluids like plasma and the intracellular space are at least 2-3 times more dilute.
Unless some other human bodily fluids are exceptionally salty, it seems that there is a pretty big difference and it is not very accurate to say that bodily fluids and sea water have close chemical compositions.
There are not many fluids that are very close from bodily fluids in term of composition. Popular culture tells the tale of emergency transfusions of coconut water during WWII, but that's not supported by medical literature; even though more recently, in exceptional emergency cases, it has been reported to be possible as a short term solution because of the similarity of osmolarity between plasma and coconut water.
answered Dec 10 '18 at 5:25
MowgliMowgli
1,452414
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I'd guess the teacher was just making the broad comparison that bodily fluids and seawater can both contain $ce{Na+, K+, Cl-}$ even if they're not at the same concentrations or the only constituents of those fluids.
$endgroup$
– Jam
Dec 10 '18 at 23:05
$begingroup$
Yes, I was meaning chemicals, ie minerals, or just elements, and not to include specifically other biological organisms. @Jam what you are saying sounds similar to what the teacher said. I think she did refer to those elements specifically.
$endgroup$
– takintoolong
Dec 11 '18 at 1:40
add a comment |
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1 Answer
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1 Answer
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$begingroup$
Let's just consider mineral salts, since obviously sea water does not contain animal proteins or cells, and (fortunately) our bodies don't contain phages, micro-algae etc.
Sea water is very salty; on average about 0.5mol/L of NaCl (the main salt dissolved in sea water).
On the other hand, human biological fluids like plasma and the intracellular space are at least 2-3 times more dilute.
Unless some other human bodily fluids are exceptionally salty, it seems that there is a pretty big difference and it is not very accurate to say that bodily fluids and sea water have close chemical compositions.
There are not many fluids that are very close from bodily fluids in term of composition. Popular culture tells the tale of emergency transfusions of coconut water during WWII, but that's not supported by medical literature; even though more recently, in exceptional emergency cases, it has been reported to be possible as a short term solution because of the similarity of osmolarity between plasma and coconut water.
answered Dec 10 '18 at 5:25
MowgliMowgli
1,452414
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
I'd guess the teacher was just making the broad comparison that bodily fluids and seawater can both contain $ce{Na+, K+, Cl-}$ even if they're not at the same concentrations or the only constituents of those fluids.
$endgroup$
– Jam
Dec 10 '18 at 23:05
$begingroup$
Yes, I was meaning chemicals, ie minerals, or just elements, and not to include specifically other biological organisms. @Jam what you are saying sounds similar to what the teacher said. I think she did refer to those elements specifically.
$endgroup$
– takintoolong
Dec 11 '18 at 1:40
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Let's just consider mineral salts, since obviously sea water does not contain animal proteins or cells, and (fortunately) our bodies don't contain phages, micro-algae etc.
Sea water is very salty; on average about 0.5mol/L of NaCl (the main salt dissolved in sea water).
On the other hand, human biological fluids like plasma and the intracellular space are at least 2-3 times more dilute.
Unless some other human bodily fluids are exceptionally salty, it seems that there is a pretty big difference and it is not very accurate to say that bodily fluids and sea water have close chemical compositions.
There are not many fluids that are very close from bodily fluids in term of composition. Popular culture tells the tale of emergency transfusions of coconut water during WWII, but that's not supported by medical literature; even though more recently, in exceptional emergency cases, it has been reported to be possible as a short term solution because of the similarity of osmolarity between plasma and coconut water.
answered Dec 10 '18 at 5:25
MowgliMowgli
1,452414
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
I'd guess the teacher was just making the broad comparison that bodily fluids and seawater can both contain $ce{Na+, K+, Cl-}$ even if they're not at the same concentrations or the only constituents of those fluids.
$endgroup$
– Jam
Dec 10 '18 at 23:05
$begingroup$
Yes, I was meaning chemicals, ie minerals, or just elements, and not to include specifically other biological organisms. @Jam what you are saying sounds similar to what the teacher said. I think she did refer to those elements specifically.
$endgroup$
– takintoolong
Dec 11 '18 at 1:40
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Let's just consider mineral salts, since obviously sea water does not contain animal proteins or cells, and (fortunately) our bodies don't contain phages, micro-algae etc.
Sea water is very salty; on average about 0.5mol/L of NaCl (the main salt dissolved in sea water).
On the other hand, human biological fluids like plasma and the intracellular space are at least 2-3 times more dilute.
Unless some other human bodily fluids are exceptionally salty, it seems that there is a pretty big difference and it is not very accurate to say that bodily fluids and sea water have close chemical compositions.
There are not many fluids that are very close from bodily fluids in term of composition. Popular culture tells the tale of emergency transfusions of coconut water during WWII, but that's not supported by medical literature; even though more recently, in exceptional emergency cases, it has been reported to be possible as a short term solution because of the similarity of osmolarity between plasma and coconut water.
answered Dec 10 '18 at 5:25
MowgliMowgli
1,452414
$endgroup$
Let's just consider mineral salts, since obviously sea water does not contain animal proteins or cells, and (fortunately) our bodies don't contain phages, micro-algae etc.
Sea water is very salty; on average about 0.5mol/L of NaCl (the main salt dissolved in sea water).
On the other hand, human biological fluids like plasma and the intracellular space are at least 2-3 times more dilute.
Unless some other human bodily fluids are exceptionally salty, it seems that there is a pretty big difference and it is not very accurate to say that bodily fluids and sea water have close chemical compositions.
There are not many fluids that are very close from bodily fluids in term of composition. Popular culture tells the tale of emergency transfusions of coconut water during WWII, but that's not supported by medical literature; even though more recently, in exceptional emergency cases, it has been reported to be possible as a short term solution because of the similarity of osmolarity between plasma and coconut water.
answered Dec 10 '18 at 5:25
MowgliMowgli
1,452414
edited Dec 11 '18 at 4:35
answered Dec 10 '18 at 5:25
MowgliMowgli
1,452414
answered Dec 10 '18 at 5:25
MowgliMowgli
1,452414
answered Dec 10 '18 at 5:25
MowgliMowgli
1,452414
1,452414
$begingroup$
I'd guess the teacher was just making the broad comparison that bodily fluids and seawater can both contain $ce{Na+, K+, Cl-}$ even if they're not at the same concentrations or the only constituents of those fluids.
$endgroup$
– Jam
Dec 10 '18 at 23:05
$begingroup$
Yes, I was meaning chemicals, ie minerals, or just elements, and not to include specifically other biological organisms. @Jam what you are saying sounds similar to what the teacher said. I think she did refer to those elements specifically.
$endgroup$
– takintoolong
Dec 11 '18 at 1:40
add a comment |
$begingroup$
I'd guess the teacher was just making the broad comparison that bodily fluids and seawater can both contain $ce{Na+, K+, Cl-}$ even if they're not at the same concentrations or the only constituents of those fluids.
$endgroup$
– Jam
Dec 10 '18 at 23:05
$begingroup$
Yes, I was meaning chemicals, ie minerals, or just elements, and not to include specifically other biological organisms. @Jam what you are saying sounds similar to what the teacher said. I think she did refer to those elements specifically.
$endgroup$
– takintoolong
Dec 11 '18 at 1:40
$begingroup$
I'd guess the teacher was just making the broad comparison that bodily fluids and seawater can both contain $ce{Na+, K+, Cl-}$ even if they're not at the same concentrations or the only constituents of those fluids.
$endgroup$
– Jam
Dec 10 '18 at 23:05
$begingroup$
I'd guess the teacher was just making the broad comparison that bodily fluids and seawater can both contain $ce{Na+, K+, Cl-}$ even if they're not at the same concentrations or the only constituents of those fluids.
$endgroup$
– Jam
Dec 10 '18 at 23:05
$begingroup$
Yes, I was meaning chemicals, ie minerals, or just elements, and not to include specifically other biological organisms. @Jam what you are saying sounds similar to what the teacher said. I think she did refer to those elements specifically.
$endgroup$
– takintoolong
Dec 11 '18 at 1:40
$begingroup$
Yes, I was meaning chemicals, ie minerals, or just elements, and not to include specifically other biological organisms. @Jam what you are saying sounds similar to what the teacher said. I think she did refer to those elements specifically.
$endgroup$
– takintoolong
Dec 11 '18 at 1:40
add a comment |
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$begingroup$
I also remember the teacher adding a disclaimer that it was not just any sample of sea water, rather an average or maybe seawater in the open ocean. She implied this comparison did not necessarily apply to various "sea water" bodies like bays or coastal areas.
$endgroup$
– takintoolong
Dec 11 '18 at 1:45