The fluid compartment that surrounds cells, tissues, and organs. It is distributed into several sub¬ compartments (plasma, interstitial, and lymph fluids; fluids around connective tissue, cartilage, and bone; and transcellular fluids), which are not clearly defined. About 45% of the total body water is found in the extracellular compartments.
Water that is found outside of the cell is referred to as extracellular water. This fluid includes the intravascular water that is not within the cells, lymph fluids, and water within tissues, but between the cells. Extracellular water accounts for approximately 45% of the body’s total water content.