Question

What would happen if a patient was given a hypertonic solution, like 3% saline? To the intercellular compartment? To the plasma volume?

Answer 1

When a patient is given a hypertonic solution like 3% saline, water would leave the cells in the intercellular compartment while the plasma volume would increase.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a patient is given a hypertonic solution like 3% saline, the intercellular compartment would experience water leaving the cells. This is because the extracellular fluid in a hypertonic solution has a higher osmolarity than the cell's cytoplasm, causing water to move out of the cells. On the other hand, the plasma volume would increase due to the influx of water from the cells into the extracellular fluid, leading to an expansion of plasma volume.