BIOS 256 - Week 5: Fluid, Electrolyte, And Acid-Base
Balancing Exam Questions With Correct Answers
Which term best describes a positively charged ion in an aqueous solution?
Salt
Cofactor
Cation
Anion
Electrolyte - ANSWER Cation
Though electrolytes are charged particles in an aqueous solution, it is too general, and
the question asks specifically for the positively charged ion, the cation.
Salts are formed by the combination of acids and bases. Anions are negatively charged
ions. Cofactors are metallic ions like Fe (iron) and Mg (magnesium) that are required for
enzyme activity. Electrolytes can either be positively charged or negatively charged
ions.
What structure makes up the outer boundaries of human cells?
Peptidoglycan
Endoplasmic reticulum
Plasma membrane
Capsule
Cell wall - ANSWER Plasma membrane
Human cells are surrounded by a phospholipid bilayer plasma membrane, sometimes
referred to as the cell membrane.
Cell walls are found in plants and not humans. Peptidoglycan layer and capsules are
found in bacteria. Endoplasmic reticulum refers to a folded organelle within the cell.
What term can be described as the diffusion of water across a semi-permeable
membrane from an area of low solute concentration to an area of high solute
concentration?
Endocytosis
Primary active transport
Simple diffusion
Osmosis
Facilitated diffusion - ANSWER Osmosis
,Osmosis is the primary method of moving water across a membrane utilizing osmotic
gradients created by the solutes. High concentrations of solutes have greater osmotic
pressure, forcing water to follow the solutes.
Facilitated diffusion is a general term that can include osmosis, but osmosis is the most
correct answer. Endocytosis and primary active transport require energy, and diffusion
implies a passive movement.
Which organ monitors and maintains the water-electrolyte balance?
Heart
Kidneys
Liver
Skeletal muscle
Skin - ANSWER Kidneys
The kidneys are the primary regulators of water-electrolyte balance, conserving what
the body needs and expelling excess and waste.
The other structures do not both monitor and maintain this balance.
Which solution would cause a cell placed in it to lose volume as water leaves the cell?
Hypertonic
Distilled water
Hypotonic
Viscous
Isotonic - ANSWER Hypertonic
Hypertonic solutions are those with a higher solute concentration than the intracellular
space, leading to fluid leaving the cell and the membrane becoming shriveled.
Hypotonic solutions, such as distilled water, are those with a lower solute concentration
than the intracellular space, leading to fluid entering the cell, causing it to swell. Isotonic
solutions have even levels of solute concentration on both sides of the membrane.
Viscous solutions just refer to their thickness and not their concentration.
Which components are found in blood plasma? Select all that apply.
Water
Erthyrocytes
Albumin
Troponin
Leukocytes - ANSWER Water
Albumin
Erthyrocytes
Leukocytes
Albumin is an aqueous (with water) fluid that acts as a transport mechanism for blood
cells including erythrocytes, leukocytes, and thrombocytes. In addition, it will transport
the plasma proteins such as albumin, globulin, and fibrinogen.
, Troponin is a protein found in muscle fibers.
Which electrolyte is the most abundant cation found in the extracellular fluid?
Magnesium
Calcium
Bicarbonate
Chloride
Sodium - ANSWER Sodium
Cations refer to substances that have a positive charge in an aqueous solution, and the
most prevalent cation in the extracellular fluid is sodium.
Chloride and bicarbonate are negatively charged. Magnesium and calcium are more
commonly found in the intracellular fluid.
Which is not a common way for water to be lost from the body?
Tears
Defecation
Sweating
Urination
Exhalation - ANSWER Tears
ear formation is not likely to cause a noticeable loss of fluids from the body.
Exhaling water vapor, urination, defecation, and sweating are the most common
methods of water loss.
What is the most important difference between blood plasma and interstitial fluid?
Blood plasma is considered extracellular fluid while interstitial fluid is considered
intracellular fluid.
Blood plasma contains lower levels of sodium than interstitial fluid.
Blood plasma contains higher levels of albumin than interstitial fluid.
Blood plasma and interstitial fluid are found in separate compartments.
Blood plasma can hold leukocytes and interstitial fluid cannot. - ANSWER Blood plasma
and interstitial fluid are found in separate compartments.
The most important difference between these fluids is their location in separate
compartments. Blood plasma is mostly within the blood vessels and interstitial fluid is
the fluid found outside the blood vessels and cells, but both are considered
extracellular.
Though blood plasma contains higher levels of albumin and lower levels of sodium than
interstitial fluid, these are not the MOST important differences.
Which body fluid contributes most of the body's water weight?
Lymph fluid
Blood plasma
Cytoplasm
Interstitial fluid
Balancing Exam Questions With Correct Answers
Which term best describes a positively charged ion in an aqueous solution?
Salt
Cofactor
Cation
Anion
Electrolyte - ANSWER Cation
Though electrolytes are charged particles in an aqueous solution, it is too general, and
the question asks specifically for the positively charged ion, the cation.
Salts are formed by the combination of acids and bases. Anions are negatively charged
ions. Cofactors are metallic ions like Fe (iron) and Mg (magnesium) that are required for
enzyme activity. Electrolytes can either be positively charged or negatively charged
ions.
What structure makes up the outer boundaries of human cells?
Peptidoglycan
Endoplasmic reticulum
Plasma membrane
Capsule
Cell wall - ANSWER Plasma membrane
Human cells are surrounded by a phospholipid bilayer plasma membrane, sometimes
referred to as the cell membrane.
Cell walls are found in plants and not humans. Peptidoglycan layer and capsules are
found in bacteria. Endoplasmic reticulum refers to a folded organelle within the cell.
What term can be described as the diffusion of water across a semi-permeable
membrane from an area of low solute concentration to an area of high solute
concentration?
Endocytosis
Primary active transport
Simple diffusion
Osmosis
Facilitated diffusion - ANSWER Osmosis
,Osmosis is the primary method of moving water across a membrane utilizing osmotic
gradients created by the solutes. High concentrations of solutes have greater osmotic
pressure, forcing water to follow the solutes.
Facilitated diffusion is a general term that can include osmosis, but osmosis is the most
correct answer. Endocytosis and primary active transport require energy, and diffusion
implies a passive movement.
Which organ monitors and maintains the water-electrolyte balance?
Heart
Kidneys
Liver
Skeletal muscle
Skin - ANSWER Kidneys
The kidneys are the primary regulators of water-electrolyte balance, conserving what
the body needs and expelling excess and waste.
The other structures do not both monitor and maintain this balance.
Which solution would cause a cell placed in it to lose volume as water leaves the cell?
Hypertonic
Distilled water
Hypotonic
Viscous
Isotonic - ANSWER Hypertonic
Hypertonic solutions are those with a higher solute concentration than the intracellular
space, leading to fluid leaving the cell and the membrane becoming shriveled.
Hypotonic solutions, such as distilled water, are those with a lower solute concentration
than the intracellular space, leading to fluid entering the cell, causing it to swell. Isotonic
solutions have even levels of solute concentration on both sides of the membrane.
Viscous solutions just refer to their thickness and not their concentration.
Which components are found in blood plasma? Select all that apply.
Water
Erthyrocytes
Albumin
Troponin
Leukocytes - ANSWER Water
Albumin
Erthyrocytes
Leukocytes
Albumin is an aqueous (with water) fluid that acts as a transport mechanism for blood
cells including erythrocytes, leukocytes, and thrombocytes. In addition, it will transport
the plasma proteins such as albumin, globulin, and fibrinogen.
, Troponin is a protein found in muscle fibers.
Which electrolyte is the most abundant cation found in the extracellular fluid?
Magnesium
Calcium
Bicarbonate
Chloride
Sodium - ANSWER Sodium
Cations refer to substances that have a positive charge in an aqueous solution, and the
most prevalent cation in the extracellular fluid is sodium.
Chloride and bicarbonate are negatively charged. Magnesium and calcium are more
commonly found in the intracellular fluid.
Which is not a common way for water to be lost from the body?
Tears
Defecation
Sweating
Urination
Exhalation - ANSWER Tears
ear formation is not likely to cause a noticeable loss of fluids from the body.
Exhaling water vapor, urination, defecation, and sweating are the most common
methods of water loss.
What is the most important difference between blood plasma and interstitial fluid?
Blood plasma is considered extracellular fluid while interstitial fluid is considered
intracellular fluid.
Blood plasma contains lower levels of sodium than interstitial fluid.
Blood plasma contains higher levels of albumin than interstitial fluid.
Blood plasma and interstitial fluid are found in separate compartments.
Blood plasma can hold leukocytes and interstitial fluid cannot. - ANSWER Blood plasma
and interstitial fluid are found in separate compartments.
The most important difference between these fluids is their location in separate
compartments. Blood plasma is mostly within the blood vessels and interstitial fluid is
the fluid found outside the blood vessels and cells, but both are considered
extracellular.
Though blood plasma contains higher levels of albumin and lower levels of sodium than
interstitial fluid, these are not the MOST important differences.
Which body fluid contributes most of the body's water weight?
Lymph fluid
Blood plasma
Cytoplasm
Interstitial fluid
