Types of body fluids

Body fluids are secreted within human bodies and aid in transporting nutrients and eliminating waste from human cells. Our bodies produce these fluids to address our physical, emotional, and metabolic demands. Proteins make up bodily fluids expelled or released from the body. Because bodily fluids and tissue, such as blood or faeces, are known to be transmission vehicles, they can pose severe health hazards if not properly cleaned and disinfected. Any fluid produced by a living thing is a bodily fluid, and there are different types of body fluids. 

Different types of bodily fluids and their functions

Exposure to bodily fluids can occur in various situations, from biohazard accidents to traumatic events such as car accidents. Basic knowledge of different body fluids is essential because these fluids could cause life-threatening diseases such as heart failure and cancer.

The human body contains numerous different types of fluids. The following is a list.

Blood – By transporting waste away from our cells and washing it out of the body through urine, faeces, and sweat, blood plays an essential part in the body’s defence against illness. Blood also transports vital elements such as sugar, hormones, and oxygen to the body, which it requires to function and survive.

Saliva – It contains mainly water, minerals and proteins that help you chew and swallow appropriately while preventing gum disease and tooth decay.

Sweat – Sweating is a thermoregulatory mechanism that allows us to cool down. Sweat evaporates from our skin’s surface, cooling us down.

Semen – Semen, which contains protein, fructose, and catecholamines, is released by males during ejaculation.

Cerebrospinal Fluid – CSF (cerebrospinal fluid) is a colourless, clear fluid that bathes the brain and spinal cord and performs various tasks. It nourishes the brain and spinal cord.

Vaginal fluids – Biological fluids contain amino acids, carbohydrates, proteins, and other acids produced by the typical lactobacillus bacteria thriving within or discharged from the vagina.

Mucus – Mucus is made up of antibodies, enzymes, and proteins that fight germs and viruses. It keeps the nose, mouth, sinuses, throat, and lungs moist.

Sebum – It is a complex oily mixture of lipids produced by the sebaceous glands attached to the hair follicles in the dermis. The increase or decrease in the production of sebum is subject to hormonal stimulations. It serves to protect the skin from anaerobic and lipophilic bacteria. 

Tears – Tears are a sort of mucus that is unique. The lacrimal glands are responsible for producing them. Tears form a protective coating around the eye, lubricating it and flushing out dust and other irritants.

Urine – Urine, which is 95 percent water, removes toxins and dead blood cells from the body while allowing your body to get rid of excess water.

Breast Milk – It contains all the nutrients that a newborn infant requires. It is a complex fluid high in proteins, fat, carbs, amino acids, fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, and trace elements, among other things.

Functions of body fluids

Biological fluids are required for body functions and the transportation of solutes and metabolic products. Some of the actions are listed below.

Body fluids aid in digestion, blood circulation, skin hydration and regulation of body temperature. 

They are necessary for the smooth working of the body and gives energy to the body. 

They transport oxygen and nutrients to the cells while also removing waste, which is eventually removed by urination. When the body temperature rises, blood flow to the skin increases, allowing heat to be dissipated through perspiration, thereby maintaining a steady body temperature.

The dangers of being exposed to bodily fluids

Body fluids are liquids secreted from the bodies of living beings and play an essential part in carrying out physiological functions. Infections or infectious disorders such as flu, colds, norovirus, Hepatitis, AIDS, and HIV can be transmitted and spread by coming in touch with body fluids containing germs, bacteria, or viruses. Many factors influence the risk of developing a disease by direct contact with blood, urine, vomit, or faeces, including but not limited to: 

• The presence of the infectious agents
• The number of bodily fluids/faeces involved in the exposure
• Exposure duration and type
• The number and type of infectious agents present in bodily fluids/faeces during exposure
• Whether proper precautions, such as wearing PPE and washing your hands, were  taken or not

Conclusion

Some bodily fluids are visible, and some are not very frequently visible, like the amniotic fluid, cerebral fluid, and the fluids that lubricate the heart and lungs’ surfaces and the abdominal organs and joints. To obtain a better understanding of these fluids, one must first understand the biology of the human body in terms of both health and disease. Understanding the composition of bodily fluids and simulating their secretion can have therapeutic and diagnostic implications. For example, in preventative medicine, they study tears for identifying biomarkers to diagnose dry eye disease, glaucoma, retinopathies, cancer, multiple sclerosis, and other diseases.