5). Actual clinical example: This case study is modified from Michael, JA and AA

Question

5). Actual clinical example: This case study is modified from Michael, JA and AA Rovick. Problem Solving in Physiology, Prentice Hall , 1999.

One night during a heat wave an elderly lady, Ms. B, was brought into the emergency room of a hospital in a state of sever dehydration. Analysis of her blood showed that she had a plasma volume of 3.0L and a plasma osmolarity of 320mOsm/L. The emergency room attending physician, feeling that he had to do something quick, gave her an IV infusion of 1.0L of distilled water. After awhile, she did start to feel better, but at this point a blood sample showed a slight reddish tint of the plasma.

A). After equilibration of the water, would Ms. B’s plasma be isotonic, hypertonic or hypotonic (to normal)? What would her plasma osmolarity be normally? What is it after the addition of the distilled water?





B). What is plasma? How did Ms. B’s plasma come to have a reddish tint?

Explanation / Answer

A) After equilibration of the water, her plasma would be hypotonic to normal. Normal osmolarity of plasma is 280-300mOsm/l After addition of distilled water, the osmolarity falls below the normal range. B) Plasma is straw yellow liquid component of blood composed of dissolved ions, gases,etc. Blood cells are suspended in the plasma. Due to hypotonicity of the plasma on rehydration, some of the red blood cells(erythrocytes) ruputure, giving the reddish tinge to the plasma.

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