Human red blood cells contain 0.9% sodium chloride as a component of their cytoplasm. What would happen if an IV solution containing 1.5% sodium chloride is introduced into a person?

Question

a
Their red blood cells would absorb water across their cell membrane and begin to swell.
b
The red blood cells will first lose water across their cell membrane, then absorb water across their cell membrane.
c
Their red blood cells would lose water across their cell membrane and begin to shrink.
d
The red blood cells would first absorb water across their cell membrane, then lose water across their cell membrane.

Answer 1

When an IV solution containing 1.5% sodium chloride (NaCl) is introduced into a person, it creates a hypertonic environment compared to the inside of the red blood cells, which contain 0.9% NaCl.

In a hypertonic solution, water moves from an area of lower solute concentration (inside the red blood cells) to an area of higher solute concentration (the IV solution). This results in red blood cells losing water, which causes them to shrink.

Therefore, the correct answer is:

c Their red blood cells would lose water across their cell membrane and begin to shrink.