Fluid and Electrolytes Anatomy and Physiology
(Sherpath) Questions & Certified Answers with
Rationales | 100% Correct | The Ultimate Study Guide
for Yr. (2026/2027)
Which statement describes overhydration?
Fluid intake is less than the body’s fluid needs.
Fluid retention is equal to the body’s fluid needs.
Fluid retention is less than the body’s fluid needs.
Fluid intake is greater than the body’s fluid needs.
Rationale
Fluid overload, or overhydration, is an excess of body fluid. It is a condition in which fluid
intake or retention is greater than the body’s fluid needs. If fluid intake is less than the
body’s fluid needs, the condition is called dehydration. Fluid retention is equal to the body’s
fluid needs in a condition called hydration. If the fluid retention is less than the body’s fluid
needs, it leads to dehydration. pp. 258-259
Which value falls within the range of the minimal amount of urine that needs to be produced
in 24 hours?
150 mL/day
250 mL/day
350 mL/day
450 mL/day
Rationale
The minimum volume of urine per day needed to excrete toxic waste products is 400 to 600
mL and is called obligatory urine output. Urine output between 100 and 400 mL per day is
called oliguria or hypouresis. p. 252
Which fluid volume is the expected insensible water loss for a healthy adult each day?
250 to 500 mL
,500 to 1000 mL
1000 to 1250 mL
1250 to 1750 mL
Rationale
The expected amount of insensible water loss for a healthy adult is 500 to 1000 mL/day.
The other ranges are not accurate in terms of insensible water loss for a healthy adult each
day. p. 252
Which statement is accurate regarding fluid balance in older adult patients?
They have less total body water.
They are prone to hyperkalemia.
They are prone to hypernatremia.
They have an increased thirst
reflex. Rationale
Older adult patients have less total body water than younger patients, which increases their
risk for dehydration. Older adult patients are not prone to hyperkalemia or hypernatremia.
Poor regulation of potassium and sodium balance puts older adults at risk for hyponatremia
and hypokalemia. Older adult patients have a deceased thirst reflex, which places them at
an increased risk for dehydration. p. 252
Which amount of fluid does a healthy adult typically consume each day?
2 L/day
2.3 L/day
2.6 L/day
2.9 L/day
Rationale
Most healthy adults take in about 2300 mL of fluid each day from food and liquids, which is equivalent to 2.3 L/day.
The other figures do not accurately account for the amount of daily fluid from food and liquids. p. 252
Which fluid is critical to prevent death?
Urine
Perspiration
Blood volume
Interstitial fluid
Rationale
The most important fluids to keep in balance are the blood volume (plasma volume) and the fluid inside the cells
(intracellular fluid). Of these two, the most critical fluid balance to prevent death is maintaining blood volume at a
, sufficient level for blood pressure to remain high enough to ensure adequate perfusion and gas exchange of all
organs and tissues. Interstitial fluid, the fluid between cells, is less important. Urine and perspiration both play a role
in fluid balance but are not critical fluids to prevent death. p. 253
Which medication mimics the effect of antidiuretic hormone (ADH) on the body?
Insulin
Calcium
Potassium
Vasopressin
Rationale
Vasopressin is a medication that mimics the effects of ADH on the body to maintain fluid balance within the body.
Insulin is a medication that controls blood glucose levels in the blood. Calcium and potassium are electrolytes that
are impacted by fluid balance; however, they are not administered to mimic the effect of ADH. pp. 252-253
Which term would the nurse use to document the presence of excess tissue fluid?
Ascites
Edema
Turgor
Filtration
Rationale
The nurse documents the presence of excess tissue fluid as edema. Edema forms with changes in hydrostatic
pressure differences between the blood and the interstitial fluid, such as in right-sided heart failure. Ascites refers to
the abnormal accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal (abdominal) cavity. Turgor is commonly assessed in dehydration
states and refers to the tenting of skin when gently pinched because of loss of skin elasticity. Filtration is a general
term describing the action of fluid passing through a medium or membrane from one compartment to another. p. 249
Which change is associated with aging?
Loss of skin elasticity
Adrenal hypertrophy
Increased thirst reflex
Increased muscle mass
Rationale
A loss of skin elasticity is an age-related change that impacts fluid balance. Adrenal atrophy, not hypertrophy, is also
an age-related change that impacts fluid balance. Decreased, not increased, thirst reflex and muscle mass are also
age-related changes that impact fluid balance. p. 252
Which route of fluid loss is unmeasurable?
Urine
Feces
Emesis
Perspiration
Rationale
(Sherpath) Questions & Certified Answers with
Rationales | 100% Correct | The Ultimate Study Guide
for Yr. (2026/2027)
Which statement describes overhydration?
Fluid intake is less than the body’s fluid needs.
Fluid retention is equal to the body’s fluid needs.
Fluid retention is less than the body’s fluid needs.
Fluid intake is greater than the body’s fluid needs.
Rationale
Fluid overload, or overhydration, is an excess of body fluid. It is a condition in which fluid
intake or retention is greater than the body’s fluid needs. If fluid intake is less than the
body’s fluid needs, the condition is called dehydration. Fluid retention is equal to the body’s
fluid needs in a condition called hydration. If the fluid retention is less than the body’s fluid
needs, it leads to dehydration. pp. 258-259
Which value falls within the range of the minimal amount of urine that needs to be produced
in 24 hours?
150 mL/day
250 mL/day
350 mL/day
450 mL/day
Rationale
The minimum volume of urine per day needed to excrete toxic waste products is 400 to 600
mL and is called obligatory urine output. Urine output between 100 and 400 mL per day is
called oliguria or hypouresis. p. 252
Which fluid volume is the expected insensible water loss for a healthy adult each day?
250 to 500 mL
,500 to 1000 mL
1000 to 1250 mL
1250 to 1750 mL
Rationale
The expected amount of insensible water loss for a healthy adult is 500 to 1000 mL/day.
The other ranges are not accurate in terms of insensible water loss for a healthy adult each
day. p. 252
Which statement is accurate regarding fluid balance in older adult patients?
They have less total body water.
They are prone to hyperkalemia.
They are prone to hypernatremia.
They have an increased thirst
reflex. Rationale
Older adult patients have less total body water than younger patients, which increases their
risk for dehydration. Older adult patients are not prone to hyperkalemia or hypernatremia.
Poor regulation of potassium and sodium balance puts older adults at risk for hyponatremia
and hypokalemia. Older adult patients have a deceased thirst reflex, which places them at
an increased risk for dehydration. p. 252
Which amount of fluid does a healthy adult typically consume each day?
2 L/day
2.3 L/day
2.6 L/day
2.9 L/day
Rationale
Most healthy adults take in about 2300 mL of fluid each day from food and liquids, which is equivalent to 2.3 L/day.
The other figures do not accurately account for the amount of daily fluid from food and liquids. p. 252
Which fluid is critical to prevent death?
Urine
Perspiration
Blood volume
Interstitial fluid
Rationale
The most important fluids to keep in balance are the blood volume (plasma volume) and the fluid inside the cells
(intracellular fluid). Of these two, the most critical fluid balance to prevent death is maintaining blood volume at a
, sufficient level for blood pressure to remain high enough to ensure adequate perfusion and gas exchange of all
organs and tissues. Interstitial fluid, the fluid between cells, is less important. Urine and perspiration both play a role
in fluid balance but are not critical fluids to prevent death. p. 253
Which medication mimics the effect of antidiuretic hormone (ADH) on the body?
Insulin
Calcium
Potassium
Vasopressin
Rationale
Vasopressin is a medication that mimics the effects of ADH on the body to maintain fluid balance within the body.
Insulin is a medication that controls blood glucose levels in the blood. Calcium and potassium are electrolytes that
are impacted by fluid balance; however, they are not administered to mimic the effect of ADH. pp. 252-253
Which term would the nurse use to document the presence of excess tissue fluid?
Ascites
Edema
Turgor
Filtration
Rationale
The nurse documents the presence of excess tissue fluid as edema. Edema forms with changes in hydrostatic
pressure differences between the blood and the interstitial fluid, such as in right-sided heart failure. Ascites refers to
the abnormal accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal (abdominal) cavity. Turgor is commonly assessed in dehydration
states and refers to the tenting of skin when gently pinched because of loss of skin elasticity. Filtration is a general
term describing the action of fluid passing through a medium or membrane from one compartment to another. p. 249
Which change is associated with aging?
Loss of skin elasticity
Adrenal hypertrophy
Increased thirst reflex
Increased muscle mass
Rationale
A loss of skin elasticity is an age-related change that impacts fluid balance. Adrenal atrophy, not hypertrophy, is also
an age-related change that impacts fluid balance. Decreased, not increased, thirst reflex and muscle mass are also
age-related changes that impact fluid balance. p. 252
Which route of fluid loss is unmeasurable?
Urine
Feces
Emesis
Perspiration
Rationale
