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 actively pump water out

	B.	
They will swell and possibly burst

	C.	
They will remain unchanged

	D.	
They will shrink because water leaves the cells

GPT-5 mini · Answer

B. They will swell and possibly burst.

Pure water is hypotonic relative to the cytosol. Water enters red blood cells by osmosis, causing them to swell; because RBCs lack a rigid wall they can lyse (hemolyze).

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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 actively pump water out B. They will swell and possibly burst C. They will remain unchanged D. They will shrink because water leaves the cells

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