Answer:
The term for unnoticed water losses is 'insensible water loss,' which occurs through skin evaporation, breathing, and plant transpiration. These losses are significant in daily life and can increase with certain health conditions, leading to dehydration if not managed through adequate water intake.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term used to describe water losses that we normally do not notice is insensible water loss. These losses occur through processes such as perspiration, breathing, and transpiration in plants. Insensible water loss refers to the water our bodies lose daily through evaporation from the skin, which is about 600 mL, and the water vapor in the air we exhale, amounting to approximately 400 mL. Together with these biological processes, additional water losses occur in the environment through evaporation and run-off, where water absorbs heat and evaporates into the atmosphere or flows over the land without being absorbed into the soil.
Dehydration occurs when the loss of water exceeds intake, leading to a reduced body water content. During certain conditions such as fever, diarrhea, vomiting, and kidney disease, insensible water loss can greatly increase, necessitating an increased water intake to avoid severe dehydration.