Question 1

Water intoxication is associated with a(n) __________ plasma concentration of sodium.

Accepted Answer

Water intoxication leads to a dilution of sodium in the bloodstream, resulting in hyponatremia, which is a decreased plasma concentration of sodium.

Question 2

What type of acid-base imbalance can develop when a patient with diabetes mellitus is converting fatty acids to ketone bodies?

Accepted Answer

When a patient with diabetes mellitus is converting fatty acids to ketone bodies, metabolic acidosis can develop due to the accumulation of acidic ketone bodies in the blood.

Question 3

Liver disease often results in the reduced production of plasma proteins. What effect will the resulting hypoproteinemia (low protein in the blood) have on fluid distribution in the body?

Accepted Answer

Fluid shifts out of the blood into the interstitial fluid when plasma protein levels are low because plasma proteins, particularly albumin, help maintain the blood's osmotic pressure. A decrease in osmotic pressure leads to fluid moving out of the blood vessels and accumulating in the interstitial spaces, causing edema.

Question 4

After working in her yard on a hot afternoon, Caroline has become dehydrated. As a result of the altered plasma-solute concentration, fluids will shift between compartments. Which of the following would occur?

Accepted Answer

When the body becomes dehydrated, the concentration of solutes (such as sodium) in the extracellular fluid increases. This creates an osmotic gradient that causes water to move from the intracellular compartment, where the solute concentration is now lower, to the extracellular compartment to balance the solute concentrations. This process helps to restore fluid balance but can lead to cells becoming dehydrated.

Question 5

An increase in potassium concentration in the blood will stimulate the release of __________.

Accepted Answer

Aldosterone is released in response to high potassium levels in the blood. It helps the kidneys excrete potassium, thus lowering its concentration in the bloodstream.

Question 6

The aerobic metabolism of glucose produces __________ acid, and the anaerobic metabolism of glucose produces __________ acid.

Accepted Answer

The aerobic metabolism of glucose produces carbonic acid as a result of carbon dioxide dissolving in water, while the anaerobic metabolism of glucose produces lactic acid during processes such as fermentation or in muscle cells under low oxygen conditions.

Question 7

What is the function of the class of compounds called diuretics?

Accepted Answer

Diuretics are medications designed to increase the amount of water and salt expelled from the body as urine, thereby increasing urine output.

Question 8

As body cells increase their carbon-dioxide production, the pH of the blood will __________.

Accepted Answer

As body cells increase their carbon-dioxide production, the carbon dioxide reacts with water in the blood to form carbonic acid, which dissociates into hydrogen ions and bicarbonate ions. The increase in hydrogen ions lowers the pH of the blood, making it more acidic.

Question 9

What type of compound will release the most hydrogen ions in a solution?

Accepted Answer

Strong acids dissociate completely in solution, releasing the maximum number of hydrogen ions compared to weak acids, strong bases, or weak bases.

Question 10

The phosphate buffer system helps regulate pH within cells. If too much hydrogen ion is released within the cell reducing the pH, what reaction will occur?

Accepted Answer

The correct reaction when too much hydrogen ion is released within the cell, reducing the pH, involves the hydrogen ion combining with the base form of the phosphate (HPO4^2-) to form the acid form (H2PO4^-). This helps buffer the pH by removing excess hydrogen ions from the solution.

Question 11

A decrease in plasma calcium ion concentration stimulates the release of __________.

Accepted Answer

A decrease in plasma calcium ion concentration stimulates the release of parathyroid hormone (PTH) from the parathyroid glands. PTH acts to increase blood calcium levels by stimulating the release of calcium from bones, increasing calcium reabsorption in the kidneys, and promoting the activation of vitamin D, which enhances intestinal absorption of calcium.

Question 12

What type of acid-base imbalance can result from the ingestion of too muchsodium bicarbonate to relieve indigestion?

Accepted Answer

Ingesting too much sodium bicarbonate, which is a base, can lead to metabolic alkalosis. This condition occurs when the body's pH level becomes too alkaline due to an excess of bicarbonate in the blood.

Question 13

When water output exceeds water intake, what condition develops?

Accepted Answer

Dehydration occurs when the body loses more water than it takes in, leading to a deficit in body fluids.

Question 14

Within the blood, the presence of plasma proteins creates __________, which causes fluid to move from __________.

Accepted Answer

Plasma proteins in the blood create colloid osmotic pressure, which draws fluid from the interstitial fluid into the blood, helping to maintain blood volume and pressure.

Question 15

The hormone called __________, secreted by the __________, regulates the concentration of sodium and potassium ions in extracellular fluid.

Accepted Answer

Aldosterone is secreted by the adrenal cortex and plays a crucial role in regulating the concentration of sodium and potassium ions in extracellular fluid by increasing sodium reabsorption and potassium excretion in the kidneys.

Question 16

In the bicarbonate buffer system, which compound is the base?

Accepted Answer

Bicarbonate ion (HCO3-) acts as a base in the bicarbonate buffer system by accepting hydrogen ions (H+), thereby helping to neutralize excess acid in the blood.

Question 17

What type of acid-base imbalance can result from prolonged vomiting in which only the stomach contents are lost?

Accepted Answer

Prolonged vomiting leads to the loss of stomach acid (hydrochloric acid), which results in a decrease in hydrogen ion concentration in the body. This condition leads to metabolic alkalosis, as the body's bicarbonate concentration relative to the acid concentration increases, causing the blood pH to rise above the normal range.

Question 18

In the phosphate buffer system, which compound is the acid?

Accepted Answer

Dihydrogen phosphate acts as the acid in the phosphate buffer system because it can donate a proton (H+) to form monohydrogen phosphate, thus behaving according to the Bronsted-Lowry acid definition.

Question 19

Which condition would trigger thirst?

Accepted Answer

Increased plasma-solute concentration triggers thirst as the body seeks to dilute the blood by increasing fluid intake.

Question 20

Gerald just finished playing a couple of games of pick-up basketball in the park and has become dehydrated. In addition to triggering thirst, how else might his body respond to reestablish homeostasis?

Accepted Answer

When the body is dehydrated, it responds by increasing the secretion of Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH) to conserve water, thereby helping to reestablish homeostasis by reducing urine output and retaining more water in the body.

Quiz 18: Water, Electrolyte, and Acid-Base Balance