A doctor gives a patient an IV with pure water instead of a saline solution. What is the most likely effect on

Question

A doctor gives a patient an IV with pure water instead of a saline solution. What is the most likely effect on the patient’s red blood cells?

	A.	
They will remain unchanged

	B.	
They will shrink because water leaves the cells

	C.	
They will actively pump water out

	D.	
They will swell and possibly burst

GPT-5 mini · Answer

D. They will swell and possibly burst.

Pure water is hypotonic relative to the cytoplasm, so water moves into the red blood cells by osmosis. Lacking a rigid cell wall, they swell and can undergo hemolysis.

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A doctor gives a patient an IV with pure water instead of a saline solution. What is the most likely effect on the patient’s red blood cells? A. They will remain unchanged B. They will shrink because water leaves the cells C. They will actively pump water out D. They will swell and possibly burst

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