GMS 6401 LATEST EXAM PREP
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS PDF 2026
▶ how do we measure the volume of the intracellular fluid. Answer: cannot
be measured directly
calculate total body water and subtract extracellular fluid volume
▶ what is the capillary wall. Answer: barrier separating the plasma and
interstitial compartments
passive transport and exchange
passive exchange driven by chemical concentration gradient
semi-permeable
▶ why are capillaries so important. Answer: where nutrients, O2, and CO2
are exchanged
have larger surface area to increase exchange
▶ what is hydrostatic pressure (Pc). Answer: fluid pressure of blood
pushes water and solutes out of the capillaries
forward motion of blood requires falling hydrostatic pressure through
vessels from arterial end to venous end
higher on arterial end
lower on venous end
▶ what is the colloid osmotic pressure (pic). Answer: opposite hydrostatic
pressure
due to plasma proteins that can't cross the wall
try to pull fluids and solutes back in (absorption)
higher on venous end of capillary
lower on arterial end of capillary
increases when fluid leaves capillary
▶ what is oncotic pressure. Answer: hydrostatic pressure - colloid osmotic
pressure
, ▶ how does filtration happen throughout the capillary. Answer: hydrostatic
pressure higher higher at arterial end and colloid osmotic pressure is lower
forces water and solute out into interstitial fluid
▶ how does total body water change when person becomes more obese.
Answer: total body water will decrease and % of fat will increase
little water in fat
▶ what divides the intracellular and extracellular fluid. Answer: cell wall
(plasma membrane)
▶ what controls the fluid movement between the interstitial and plasma.
Answer: Starling Pressures
▶ what is the definition of osmolality. Answer: the number of free
(dissociated) particles in solution
units are osm or mosm/kg of H2O
▶ what determines the osmolality in body fluids. Answer: the number of
particles
NOT size of the particles
▶ what determines the osmolality in the ECF. Answer: charged
electrolytes (ions) which associate to produce a molecule and dissociate in
solution
▶ is the osmolality the same of different between the ICF and ECF.
Answer: the same
about 290-300 mosm/kg H2O
▶ why is osmotic equilibrium possible. Answer: the cell membrane is freely
permeable to water
▶ in which direction does water move. Answer: from low to high
concentration
▶ what is an isotonic solution. Answer: no osmotic gradient
no water movement
healthy cell
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS PDF 2026
▶ how do we measure the volume of the intracellular fluid. Answer: cannot
be measured directly
calculate total body water and subtract extracellular fluid volume
▶ what is the capillary wall. Answer: barrier separating the plasma and
interstitial compartments
passive transport and exchange
passive exchange driven by chemical concentration gradient
semi-permeable
▶ why are capillaries so important. Answer: where nutrients, O2, and CO2
are exchanged
have larger surface area to increase exchange
▶ what is hydrostatic pressure (Pc). Answer: fluid pressure of blood
pushes water and solutes out of the capillaries
forward motion of blood requires falling hydrostatic pressure through
vessels from arterial end to venous end
higher on arterial end
lower on venous end
▶ what is the colloid osmotic pressure (pic). Answer: opposite hydrostatic
pressure
due to plasma proteins that can't cross the wall
try to pull fluids and solutes back in (absorption)
higher on venous end of capillary
lower on arterial end of capillary
increases when fluid leaves capillary
▶ what is oncotic pressure. Answer: hydrostatic pressure - colloid osmotic
pressure
, ▶ how does filtration happen throughout the capillary. Answer: hydrostatic
pressure higher higher at arterial end and colloid osmotic pressure is lower
forces water and solute out into interstitial fluid
▶ how does total body water change when person becomes more obese.
Answer: total body water will decrease and % of fat will increase
little water in fat
▶ what divides the intracellular and extracellular fluid. Answer: cell wall
(plasma membrane)
▶ what controls the fluid movement between the interstitial and plasma.
Answer: Starling Pressures
▶ what is the definition of osmolality. Answer: the number of free
(dissociated) particles in solution
units are osm or mosm/kg of H2O
▶ what determines the osmolality in body fluids. Answer: the number of
particles
NOT size of the particles
▶ what determines the osmolality in the ECF. Answer: charged
electrolytes (ions) which associate to produce a molecule and dissociate in
solution
▶ is the osmolality the same of different between the ICF and ECF.
Answer: the same
about 290-300 mosm/kg H2O
▶ why is osmotic equilibrium possible. Answer: the cell membrane is freely
permeable to water
▶ in which direction does water move. Answer: from low to high
concentration
▶ what is an isotonic solution. Answer: no osmotic gradient
no water movement
healthy cell
