Water Balance

More water in means more urine out. Our body’s water balance is regulated by our nervous system and our endrocrine system.

Water Balance The antidiuretic hormone (ADH) regulates the osmotic pressure of body fluids by causing the kidneys to increase water reabsorption in the collecting ducts. When ADH is released, the urine is more concentrated as more water has been reabsorbed back into the body.

Here is what happens if the body is dehydrated 1)Osmoreceptors in the hypothalamus detect changes in osmotic pressure. Dehydration causes osmotic pressure to increase. The hypothalamus cells will shrink if the body is dehydrated and blood has a [high] of solute. These cells are the sensors.

Here is what happens when dehydrated 2) The hypothalamus sends a message to your pituitary gland to release ADH into the bloodstream. Hypothalamus acts as the co-ordinating center Pituitary Gland is an effector/regulator.

Here is what happens when dehydrated 3) At the kidneys, ADH makes the collecting ducts more permeable to water and thus more water is reabsorbed back into the body, making urine more concentrated.

Here is what happens when dehydrated 4) This lowers the osmotic pressure of the blood stream. The cells of the hypothalamus swell back to normal size and the pituitary gland stops releasing ADH.

Here is what happens when the body is over hydrated 1)Osmoreceptors in the hypothalamus detect changes in osmotic pressure. Over hydration causes osmotic pressure to decrease. The hypothalamus cells will swell if the body is over hydrated and blood has a [low] of solute. These cells are the sensors.

Here is what happens when the body is over hydrated 2) The hypothalamus sends a message to your pituitary gland to stop releasing ADH into the bloodstream. Hypothalamus acts as the co-ordinating center Pituitary Gland is an effector/regulator.

Here is what happens when the body is over hydrated 3) At the kidneys, little to no water is reabsorbed from the collecting ducts and therefore the urine is more dilute as more water is being expelled from the body. 4)This raises the osmotic pressure of the blood back to normal and the cells of the hypothalamus shrink back to normal size.