Introduction to Body Fluids

Question 1

Match the hydrodynamic force with its direction of fluid movement.
A. Fluid into the capillary
B. Fluid out of the capillary

1. capillary colloidal osmotic pressure _____
2. capillary hydrostatic pressure ______
3. tissue colloidal osmotic pressure ______
4. tissue hydrostatic pressure______

Answer 1

1. capillary colloidal osmotic pressure
   A. Fluid into the capillary
2. capillary hydrostatic pressure
   B. Fluid out of the capillary
3. tissue colloidal osmotic pressure
   B. Fluid out of the capillary
4. tissue hydrostatic pressure
   A. Fluid into the capillary

Question 2

5. Water enters various body systems through:
   a. Consumption of water
   b. Consumption of food
   c. Cellular metabolic processes
   d. All of these

Answer 2

d. All of these

Question 3

6. The main function of body fluids is:
   a. Cushioning interfaces between body cavities and organs
   b. Creating a barrier between organ systems
   c. Providing hydration for organs
   d. All of these

Answer 3

a. Cushioning interfaces between body cavities and organs

Question 4

Match each body fluid with the procedure used to obtain it.
A. Lumbar puncture
B. Paracardiocentesis
C. Paracentesis
D. Thoracentesis

7. ascites fluid
   C. Paracentesis
8. cerebral spinal fluid
   A. Lumbar puncture
9. paracardial fluid
   B. Paracardiocentesis
10. pleural fluid
    D. Thoracentesis

Question 5

Match the appearance description for body fluids with the probable cause for each (may have more than one match).

A. Milky
B. Oily
C. Purulent
D. Sanguineous
E. Xanthochromic
F. Yellow-green

1 1. high number of red blood cells
D. Sanguineous

1 2. high number of white blood cells
C. Purulent

1 3. indicates the degradation of hemoglobin
E. Xanthochromic

1 4. high amounts of fat may be present
A. Milky

1 5. may contain radiographic dye
B. Oily

1 6. possible sepsis
F. Yellow-green

Question 6

17. Body fluid cell counts normally need to be performed using which dilution?

a. 1:1 (undiluted)
b. 1 :2 (1 part fluid to 1 part diluent)
c. 1:10 (1 part fluid to 9 parts diluent)
d. 1 :20 (1 part fluid to 19 parts diluent)

Answer 6

a. 1:1 (undiluted)

Question 7

1 8. The preferred method of performing differential cell counts on body fluids uses:

a. An automated cell counter
b. Concentration of the specimen by sedimentation
c. Cytocentrifugation of the specimen
d. Stain added to the hemocytometer count

Answer 7

c. Cytocentrifugation of the specimen

Question 8

Match each substance with its appropriate use in body fluid cell counts.
A. Acetic acid
B. Albumin
C. Hyaluronidase
D. Methylene blue

19. breaks down thick synovial fluid
    C. Hyaluronidase
20. lyses RBCs, enhances WBCs
    A. Acetic acid
21. preserves cell structure
    B. Albumin
22. differentiates RBCs from WBCs
    D. Methylene blue

Question 9

A fluid obtained by thoracentesis was received in the hematology department of the clinical laboratory. The undiluted specimen contained 190 red blood cells and 840 nucleated cells in the nine large squares of the hemocytometer. A few drops of the specimen were used to make a smear by cytocentrifugation and then stained with Wright stain.

1. What are the cell counts on this specimen?
2. The cytocentrifuge preparation contained cells that were not recognizable, many of which appeared fragmented. What can be done to obtain a better smear?

Answer 9

1. RBCs = [ 190 x 1 x 10]/9 = 211 mm3
   Nucleated cells = [840 x 1 x 10] /9 = 933 mm3
2. A few drops of 22% albumin can be added to the cytocentrifuge cuvette along with the specimen prior to centrifugation.