NURS 8022 Exam 3 – Advanced Nursing Curriculum
2026/2027 Academic Year – Verified Questions
with Answers & Rationales
SECTION 1: FLUID, ELECTROLYTE, AND ACID-BASE BALANCE (Questions 1–20)
Question 1
What happens to the percentage of body water through the lifespan?
A) Increases steadily from infancy to old age
B) Remains constant at approximately 75% throughout life
C) Declines with age
D) Increases only during puberty
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Body water percentage decreases across the lifespan. Newborns have 75–90% body water,
which decreases to 60–65% in childhood, approximately 60% in adults, and declines further in older
adults. This decline is due to increased adipose tissue, decreased muscle mass, renal decline, and
diminished thirst perception.
Question 2
Why do older adults experience a decrease in body percentage of water? (Select all that apply)
A) Increased adipose tissue
,B) Decreased muscle mass
C) Renal decline
D) Diminished thirst
E) Increased metabolic rate
Correct Answer: A, B, C, D
Rationale: Older adults have a higher proportion of adipose tissue (which contains less water) and lower
muscle mass (which contains more water). Renal function declines with age, reducing the kidney's ability
to concentrate urine and conserve water. Additionally, the thirst mechanism becomes less sensitive,
placing older adults at increased risk for dehydration.
Question 3
What is the definition of osmotic force?
A) The pressure exerted by blood against capillary walls
B) The amount of hydrostatic pressure required to oppose the osmotic movement of water
C) The movement of fluid from the capillary into the interstitial space
D) The attraction of water from the interstitial space into the capillary
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Osmotic force is defined as the amount of hydrostatic pressure required to oppose the
osmotic movement of water across a semipermeable membrane. It represents the pulling force exerted
by solutes that cannot cross the membrane, drawing water toward the area of higher solute
concentration.
Question 4
What is filtration?
A) Movement of fluid from the interstitial space into the capillary
,B) Movement of fluid from the capillary into the interstitial space
C) Movement of water across a semipermeable membrane from low to high solute concentration
D) The pressure required to oppose osmotic movement of water
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Filtration is the movement of fluid from the capillary into the interstitial space. This process is
driven primarily by capillary hydrostatic pressure (blood pressure), which pushes fluid out of the
capillary into the surrounding tissues.
Question 5
What is reabsorption?
A) Movement of fluid from the capillary into the interstitial space
B) Movement of fluid from the interstitial space into the capillary
C) Movement of water from low to high solute concentration
D) The pressure that pushes water out of the capillary
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Reabsorption is the movement of fluid from the interstitial space back into the capillary. This
process is driven primarily by capillary oncotic pressure (plasma proteins pulling water osmotically) and
interstitial hydrostatic pressure.
Question 6
What is capillary hydrostatic pressure?
A) The pulling force exerted by plasma proteins that attracts water into the capillary
B) Blood pressure that facilitates the outward movement of water from the capillary to the interstitial
space
, C) The pressure that facilitates the inward movement of water from the interstitial space into the
capillary
D) The osmotic pressure exerted by interstitial proteins
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Capillary hydrostatic pressure, also known as capillary blood pressure, facilitates the outward
movement of water from the capillary to the interstitial space. This pressure is the primary force driving
filtration.
Question 7
What is capillary oncotic pressure?
A) Blood pressure that pushes water out of the capillary
B) Water pulling that attracts water from the interstitial space back into the capillary osmotically
C) The pressure that pushes water from the interstitial space into the capillary
D) The osmotic pressure that pulls water from the capillary into the interstitial space
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Capillary oncotic pressure (also called plasma colloid osmotic pressure) is the pulling force
exerted by plasma proteins (primarily albumin) that attracts water from the interstitial space back into
the capillary osmotically. This is the primary force driving reabsorption.
Question 8
What is interstitial hydrostatic pressure?
A) Water pulling that attracts water from the capillary into the interstitial space
B) Blood pressure that pushes water out of the capillary
C) Water pushing that facilitates the inward movement of water from the interstitial space into the
capillary
2026/2027 Academic Year – Verified Questions
with Answers & Rationales
SECTION 1: FLUID, ELECTROLYTE, AND ACID-BASE BALANCE (Questions 1–20)
Question 1
What happens to the percentage of body water through the lifespan?
A) Increases steadily from infancy to old age
B) Remains constant at approximately 75% throughout life
C) Declines with age
D) Increases only during puberty
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Body water percentage decreases across the lifespan. Newborns have 75–90% body water,
which decreases to 60–65% in childhood, approximately 60% in adults, and declines further in older
adults. This decline is due to increased adipose tissue, decreased muscle mass, renal decline, and
diminished thirst perception.
Question 2
Why do older adults experience a decrease in body percentage of water? (Select all that apply)
A) Increased adipose tissue
,B) Decreased muscle mass
C) Renal decline
D) Diminished thirst
E) Increased metabolic rate
Correct Answer: A, B, C, D
Rationale: Older adults have a higher proportion of adipose tissue (which contains less water) and lower
muscle mass (which contains more water). Renal function declines with age, reducing the kidney's ability
to concentrate urine and conserve water. Additionally, the thirst mechanism becomes less sensitive,
placing older adults at increased risk for dehydration.
Question 3
What is the definition of osmotic force?
A) The pressure exerted by blood against capillary walls
B) The amount of hydrostatic pressure required to oppose the osmotic movement of water
C) The movement of fluid from the capillary into the interstitial space
D) The attraction of water from the interstitial space into the capillary
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Osmotic force is defined as the amount of hydrostatic pressure required to oppose the
osmotic movement of water across a semipermeable membrane. It represents the pulling force exerted
by solutes that cannot cross the membrane, drawing water toward the area of higher solute
concentration.
Question 4
What is filtration?
A) Movement of fluid from the interstitial space into the capillary
,B) Movement of fluid from the capillary into the interstitial space
C) Movement of water across a semipermeable membrane from low to high solute concentration
D) The pressure required to oppose osmotic movement of water
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Filtration is the movement of fluid from the capillary into the interstitial space. This process is
driven primarily by capillary hydrostatic pressure (blood pressure), which pushes fluid out of the
capillary into the surrounding tissues.
Question 5
What is reabsorption?
A) Movement of fluid from the capillary into the interstitial space
B) Movement of fluid from the interstitial space into the capillary
C) Movement of water from low to high solute concentration
D) The pressure that pushes water out of the capillary
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Reabsorption is the movement of fluid from the interstitial space back into the capillary. This
process is driven primarily by capillary oncotic pressure (plasma proteins pulling water osmotically) and
interstitial hydrostatic pressure.
Question 6
What is capillary hydrostatic pressure?
A) The pulling force exerted by plasma proteins that attracts water into the capillary
B) Blood pressure that facilitates the outward movement of water from the capillary to the interstitial
space
, C) The pressure that facilitates the inward movement of water from the interstitial space into the
capillary
D) The osmotic pressure exerted by interstitial proteins
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Capillary hydrostatic pressure, also known as capillary blood pressure, facilitates the outward
movement of water from the capillary to the interstitial space. This pressure is the primary force driving
filtration.
Question 7
What is capillary oncotic pressure?
A) Blood pressure that pushes water out of the capillary
B) Water pulling that attracts water from the interstitial space back into the capillary osmotically
C) The pressure that pushes water from the interstitial space into the capillary
D) The osmotic pressure that pulls water from the capillary into the interstitial space
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Capillary oncotic pressure (also called plasma colloid osmotic pressure) is the pulling force
exerted by plasma proteins (primarily albumin) that attracts water from the interstitial space back into
the capillary osmotically. This is the primary force driving reabsorption.
Question 8
What is interstitial hydrostatic pressure?
A) Water pulling that attracts water from the capillary into the interstitial space
B) Blood pressure that pushes water out of the capillary
C) Water pushing that facilitates the inward movement of water from the interstitial space into the
capillary
