Session 1 - Osmosis Flashcards
What is the most abundant protein in the plasma?
Albumin
What is a hypertonic solution?
Where the concentration of solutes is greater outside the cell and so water moves out
What is a hypotonic solution?
Where the concentration of solutes is greater inside the cell and so water moves in
What is an isotonic solution?
Where there are equal concentrations of solutes both inside and outside of the cell
What percentage of the average human is water?
60%
What is the average percentage of the normal haematocrit?
40%
What is the haematocrit?
The proportion of blood that is made up of red blood cells
What is the normal plasma range?
285-295 mOsmol/kg
What happens if you add normal saline solution to the blood?
Normal saline has an higher osmolality of 300mOsmol/kg therefore, water moves from the intercellular space (from inside the cells) into the blood.
Why would you give a patient saline solution?
To prevent their cells from bursting and also to increase their blood pressure
What happens when 5% dextrose solution is added to the blood?
The solution has a lower osmolality than blood (280 mOsmol/kg) and so water moves from the blood into the intercellular parts, hydrating cells and also the extracellular components
Why would you not supply a dehydrated person with water through IV?
Water is too hypotonic and so too much water would move into cells causing them to burst
What is osmolality?
The concentration of proteins in solution. Therefore, its the pressure that draws water in
What is Tonicity?
The concentration of solutions separated by a partially permeable membrane
