Question

When a patient does not take in enough free water, the osmolality of the extracellular fluid (ECF) is elevated above normal. This represents what type of alteration?

a. Isotonic
b. Hypertonic
c. Hypotonic
d. Normotonic

Answer 1

When a patient does not take in enough free water, the osmolality of the extracellular fluid (ECF) is elevated above normal. This represents a hypertonic alteration.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a patient does not take in enough free water, the osmolality of the extracellular fluid (ECF) is elevated above normal. This represents a hypertonic alteration. In a hypertonic solution, the extracellular fluid has a higher osmolarity than the cell's cytoplasm, which means that the fluid contains less water than the cell does. As a result, water will leave the cell.