Final answer:
The ICF is divided into intracellular fluid (ICF) within cells and extracellular fluid (ECF) which includes blood plasma and interstitial fluid (IF). The ICF is about 60% of total body water, while the ECF facilitates transport of materials and differs in composition, richer in sodium and chloride compared to the potassium and phosphate-rich ICF.
Step-by-step explanation:
The ICF is divided into two main components: the intracellular fluid (ICF) and the extracellular fluid (ECF). The ICF is the fluid within cells and includes cytosol/cytoplasm, accounting for about 60 percent of the total water in the human body. It is vital for cellular activities, with a highly regulated volume to avoid cell damage.
The ECF surrounds all cells in the body and comprises two primary constituents: blood plasma and interstitial fluid (IF). Blood plasma has high concentrations of sodium, chloride, bicarbonate, and protein, while the IF contains similar concentrations of sodium and chloride, but with less protein. The ECF facilitates the transport of materials between cells and the plasma in capillaries.
It is important to note the distinct composition of each fluid compartment; the ICF contains higher amounts of potassium and phosphate, while the ECF, including plasma and IF, is rich in sodium and chloride.