,NSG3800/NSG 3800 Exam 1 | Adult Health II |
Galen College | Q & A | 2026/2027 Edition (PDF)
1. Which of the following best describes the primary cation in the intracellular fluid (ICF) compartment?
A) Sodium
B) Chloride
C) Potassium
D) Calcium
Correct Answer: C) Potassium
Rationale: Potassium is the primary intracellular cation, playing a critical role in maintaining resting
membrane potential and cellular function. Sodium is the primary extracellular cation, while chloride and
calcium are also predominantly extracellular. Understanding this distribution is fundamental to
managing fluid and electrolyte imbalances.
2. What is the normal reference range for serum sodium?
A) 125–135 mEq/L
B) 135–145 mEq/L
C) 145–155 mEq/L
D) 120–130 mEq/L
Correct Answer: B) 135–145 mEq/L
Rationale: Normal serum sodium is 135–145 mEq/L. Hyponatremia is defined as <135 mEq/L, and
hypernatremia as >145 mEq/L. Sodium is the primary determinant of serum osmolality and is tightly
regulated by aldosterone and antidiuretic hormone (ADH).
3. According to the RAAS system, which hormone directly promotes sodium and water retention by the
kidneys?
A) Antidiuretic hormone (ADH)
,B) Aldosterone
C) Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP)
D) Renin
Correct Answer: B) Aldosterone
Rationale: Aldosterone, released from the adrenal cortex, promotes sodium reabsorption and potassium
excretion in the distal tubules of the kidneys, leading to water retention. ADH primarily regulates water
reabsorption, not sodium. ANP promotes sodium excretion, and renin initiates the cascade but does not
directly retain sodium.
4. A researcher is studying fluid compartments and notes that approximately two-thirds of total body
water is located in which space?
A) Intravascular space
B) Interstitial space
C) Extracellular space
D) Intracellular space
Correct Answer: D) Intracellular space
Rationale: Approximately two-thirds (about 40% of total body weight) of total body water is intracellular
fluid (ICF), while one-third is extracellular fluid (ECF). The ECF is further divided into intravascular,
interstitial, and transcellular spaces.
5. Which term refers to the accumulation of fluid in membrane-bound spaces such as the peritoneal or
pleural cavities?
A) Edema
B) Third-spacing
C) Dehydration
D) Ascites
, Correct Answer: B) Third-spacing
Rationale: Third-spacing describes the shift of fluid into body compartments that are not easily
exchanged with the ECF, such as ascites, pleural effusion, and pericardial effusion. This fluid is trapped
and unavailable for physiologic use, potentially leading to effective circulating volume depletion.
6. What is the most likely outcome if a patient experiences a significant decrease in serum albumin?
A) Increased intravascular oncotic pressure
B) Decreased interstitial fluid volume
C) Peripheral edema
D) Increased serum osmolality
Correct Answer: C) Peripheral edema
Rationale: Albumin is the primary plasma protein contributing to oncotic pressure, which pulls fluid into
the intravascular space. A decrease in albumin reduces oncotic pressure, allowing fluid to leak into the
interstitial space, resulting in peripheral edema. This is commonly seen in liver disease, nephrotic
syndrome, and malnutrition.
7. Which principle explains why the body retains sodium during a fluid volume deficit?
A) Osmosis
B) Diffusion
C) Active transport
D) Filtration
Correct Answer: A) Osmosis
Rationale: Osmosis is the movement of water across a semipermeable membrane from an area of lower
solute concentration to higher solute concentration. In fluid volume deficit, sodium (the primary solute)
is retained, increasing serum osmolality and drawing water from the ICF into the ECF to restore volume.
Galen College | Q & A | 2026/2027 Edition (PDF)
1. Which of the following best describes the primary cation in the intracellular fluid (ICF) compartment?
A) Sodium
B) Chloride
C) Potassium
D) Calcium
Correct Answer: C) Potassium
Rationale: Potassium is the primary intracellular cation, playing a critical role in maintaining resting
membrane potential and cellular function. Sodium is the primary extracellular cation, while chloride and
calcium are also predominantly extracellular. Understanding this distribution is fundamental to
managing fluid and electrolyte imbalances.
2. What is the normal reference range for serum sodium?
A) 125–135 mEq/L
B) 135–145 mEq/L
C) 145–155 mEq/L
D) 120–130 mEq/L
Correct Answer: B) 135–145 mEq/L
Rationale: Normal serum sodium is 135–145 mEq/L. Hyponatremia is defined as <135 mEq/L, and
hypernatremia as >145 mEq/L. Sodium is the primary determinant of serum osmolality and is tightly
regulated by aldosterone and antidiuretic hormone (ADH).
3. According to the RAAS system, which hormone directly promotes sodium and water retention by the
kidneys?
A) Antidiuretic hormone (ADH)
,B) Aldosterone
C) Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP)
D) Renin
Correct Answer: B) Aldosterone
Rationale: Aldosterone, released from the adrenal cortex, promotes sodium reabsorption and potassium
excretion in the distal tubules of the kidneys, leading to water retention. ADH primarily regulates water
reabsorption, not sodium. ANP promotes sodium excretion, and renin initiates the cascade but does not
directly retain sodium.
4. A researcher is studying fluid compartments and notes that approximately two-thirds of total body
water is located in which space?
A) Intravascular space
B) Interstitial space
C) Extracellular space
D) Intracellular space
Correct Answer: D) Intracellular space
Rationale: Approximately two-thirds (about 40% of total body weight) of total body water is intracellular
fluid (ICF), while one-third is extracellular fluid (ECF). The ECF is further divided into intravascular,
interstitial, and transcellular spaces.
5. Which term refers to the accumulation of fluid in membrane-bound spaces such as the peritoneal or
pleural cavities?
A) Edema
B) Third-spacing
C) Dehydration
D) Ascites
, Correct Answer: B) Third-spacing
Rationale: Third-spacing describes the shift of fluid into body compartments that are not easily
exchanged with the ECF, such as ascites, pleural effusion, and pericardial effusion. This fluid is trapped
and unavailable for physiologic use, potentially leading to effective circulating volume depletion.
6. What is the most likely outcome if a patient experiences a significant decrease in serum albumin?
A) Increased intravascular oncotic pressure
B) Decreased interstitial fluid volume
C) Peripheral edema
D) Increased serum osmolality
Correct Answer: C) Peripheral edema
Rationale: Albumin is the primary plasma protein contributing to oncotic pressure, which pulls fluid into
the intravascular space. A decrease in albumin reduces oncotic pressure, allowing fluid to leak into the
interstitial space, resulting in peripheral edema. This is commonly seen in liver disease, nephrotic
syndrome, and malnutrition.
7. Which principle explains why the body retains sodium during a fluid volume deficit?
A) Osmosis
B) Diffusion
C) Active transport
D) Filtration
Correct Answer: A) Osmosis
Rationale: Osmosis is the movement of water across a semipermeable membrane from an area of lower
solute concentration to higher solute concentration. In fluid volume deficit, sodium (the primary solute)
is retained, increasing serum osmolality and drawing water from the ICF into the ECF to restore volume.
