FLUIDS & ELECTROLYTES EXAM 2025
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
What are the functions of calcium? - ANS Transmission of nerve impulses, myocardial
contractions, blood clotting, formation of teeth and bone, and muscle contractions.
Calcium is present in the serum in what 3 forms? - ANS 1. Free or ionized; 2. bound to
protein (primarily albumin); and 3. complexed with phosphate, citrate, or carbonate. **The
ionized form is the biologically active form.**
What is hyPERcalcemia? - ANS An elevated serum calcium level. (above 10.2 mg/dL)
What are the two main causes of HyPERcalcemia? - ANS Two thirds are hyperparathyroidism
and one third are caused by malignancy, especially from breast or lung cancer, and multiple
myeloma.
What are the manifestations of HyPERcalcemia? - ANS Manifestations include decreased
memory, confusion, disorientation, fatigue, muscle weakness, constipation, cardiac
dysrhythmias, and renal calculi.
What is the treatment of HyPERcalcemia? - ANS Treatment is promotion of excretion of
calcium in urine by administration of a loop diuretic and hydration of the patient with isotonic
saline infusions.
What is hyPOcalcemia? - ANS A low serum calcium level. (below 8.6 mg/dL)
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,What causes hyPOcalcemia? - ANS Usually caused by a decrease in the production of
parathyroid hormone.
What are manifestations of hyPOcalcemia? - ANS It is characterized by increased muscle
excitability resulting in tetany.
How is hyPOcalcemia treated? - ANS Treated with oral or IV calcium supplements.
A patient who has had neck surgery including thyroidectomy is observed carefully for_____. -
ANS ____signs of hyPOcalcemia.
What is the function of phosphorus? - ANS It is a primary anion in the ICF and is essential to
the function of muscle, red blood cells, and the nervous system.
What is hyPERphosphatemia? - ANS An elevated serum phosphorus level. It is usually
associated with acute or chronic renal failure.
What is the usual cause of hyPERphoshatemia? - ANS It is usually associated with acute or
chronic renal failure.
What are the clinical manifestations of hyPERphosphatemia? - ANS Symptoms include
neuromuscular irritability, tetany, and calcified deposits in soft tissues.
How is hyPERphosphatemia treated? - ANS Management is aimed at the underlying cause
(treatment of the renal failure).
What is hyPOphosphatemia? - ANS A low serum phosphorus level.
What is the cause of hyPOphosphatemia? - ANS It is most commonly seen in a patient who is
malnourished or has a malabsorption syndrome.
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,What are the symptoms of hyPOphosphatemia? - ANS Decreased cardiac output, shallow
respirations, irritability, confusion
How is hyPOphosphatemia treated? - ANS Oral or IV phosphorus.
What is the function of Magnesium? - ANS It is important for cardiac function and is a
coenzyme in the metabolism of carbohydrates and proteins.
What is hyPERmagnesemia? - ANS An elevated serum magnesium level. >2.5 mEq/L
What is the cause of hyPERmagnesemia? - ANS It usually occurs only with an increase in
magnesium intake accompanied by renal insufficiency or failure.
What are the manifestations of hyPERmagnesemia? - ANS Initial clinical manifestations
include lethargy, drowsiness, and nausea and vomiting. With rising levels, deep tendon reflexes
are lost, followed by somnolence, then respiratory and cardiac arrest.
What are treatments for hyPERmagnesemia? - ANS Diuretics, calcium gluconate or calcium
chloride.
What is hyPOmagnesemia? - ANS A low serum magnesium level. < 1.5 mEq/L
What is the cause of hyPOmagnesemia? - ANS Malnutrition, alcoholism, diarrhea, vomiting
What are the manifestations of hyPOmagnesemia? - ANS Neuromuscular and CNS
hyperirritability
What is the treatment for hyPOmagnesemia? - ANS Oral supplements. NUTS and NANNERS!!
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, What is homeostasis? - ANS The state of equilibrium in the internal environment of the body,
naturally maintained by adaptive responses that promote healthy survival.
What is the primary component of the body? - ANS Water, accounting for approximately
60% of the body weight in the adult.
What are the two major fluid compartments in the body? - ANS 1. intracellular fluid (ICF), or
inside the cells, and 2. extracellular fluid (ECF), or outside the cells. ECF is composed of
interstitial fluid, plasma, and transcellular fluids.
What are three processes of movement of water and electrolytes between ECF and ICF? -
ANS Simple diffusion, facilitated diffusion, and active transport.
What two forces drive water movement? - ANS Hydrostatic pressure and osmotic pressure.
What is osmotic pressure? - ANS The amount of pressure required to stop the osmotic flow
of water.
What does the measure of osmolality indicate? - ANS The water balance of the body.
What is hydrostatic pressure? - ANS The force within a fluid compartment and is the major
force that pushes water out of the vascular system at the capillary level.
What is oncotic pressure? - ANS Osmotic pressure exerted by colloids in solution.
What is the major colloid in the vascular system that contributes to total oncotic pressure? -
ANS Protein
What are the four pressures acting on body fluids? - ANS (1) capillary hydrostatic pressure,
(2) plasma oncotic pressure, (3) interstitial hydrostatic pressure, and (4) interstitial oncotic
pressure.
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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
What are the functions of calcium? - ANS Transmission of nerve impulses, myocardial
contractions, blood clotting, formation of teeth and bone, and muscle contractions.
Calcium is present in the serum in what 3 forms? - ANS 1. Free or ionized; 2. bound to
protein (primarily albumin); and 3. complexed with phosphate, citrate, or carbonate. **The
ionized form is the biologically active form.**
What is hyPERcalcemia? - ANS An elevated serum calcium level. (above 10.2 mg/dL)
What are the two main causes of HyPERcalcemia? - ANS Two thirds are hyperparathyroidism
and one third are caused by malignancy, especially from breast or lung cancer, and multiple
myeloma.
What are the manifestations of HyPERcalcemia? - ANS Manifestations include decreased
memory, confusion, disorientation, fatigue, muscle weakness, constipation, cardiac
dysrhythmias, and renal calculi.
What is the treatment of HyPERcalcemia? - ANS Treatment is promotion of excretion of
calcium in urine by administration of a loop diuretic and hydration of the patient with isotonic
saline infusions.
What is hyPOcalcemia? - ANS A low serum calcium level. (below 8.6 mg/dL)
1 Copyright ©2025 BRAINBARTER ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
,What causes hyPOcalcemia? - ANS Usually caused by a decrease in the production of
parathyroid hormone.
What are manifestations of hyPOcalcemia? - ANS It is characterized by increased muscle
excitability resulting in tetany.
How is hyPOcalcemia treated? - ANS Treated with oral or IV calcium supplements.
A patient who has had neck surgery including thyroidectomy is observed carefully for_____. -
ANS ____signs of hyPOcalcemia.
What is the function of phosphorus? - ANS It is a primary anion in the ICF and is essential to
the function of muscle, red blood cells, and the nervous system.
What is hyPERphosphatemia? - ANS An elevated serum phosphorus level. It is usually
associated with acute or chronic renal failure.
What is the usual cause of hyPERphoshatemia? - ANS It is usually associated with acute or
chronic renal failure.
What are the clinical manifestations of hyPERphosphatemia? - ANS Symptoms include
neuromuscular irritability, tetany, and calcified deposits in soft tissues.
How is hyPERphosphatemia treated? - ANS Management is aimed at the underlying cause
(treatment of the renal failure).
What is hyPOphosphatemia? - ANS A low serum phosphorus level.
What is the cause of hyPOphosphatemia? - ANS It is most commonly seen in a patient who is
malnourished or has a malabsorption syndrome.
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,What are the symptoms of hyPOphosphatemia? - ANS Decreased cardiac output, shallow
respirations, irritability, confusion
How is hyPOphosphatemia treated? - ANS Oral or IV phosphorus.
What is the function of Magnesium? - ANS It is important for cardiac function and is a
coenzyme in the metabolism of carbohydrates and proteins.
What is hyPERmagnesemia? - ANS An elevated serum magnesium level. >2.5 mEq/L
What is the cause of hyPERmagnesemia? - ANS It usually occurs only with an increase in
magnesium intake accompanied by renal insufficiency or failure.
What are the manifestations of hyPERmagnesemia? - ANS Initial clinical manifestations
include lethargy, drowsiness, and nausea and vomiting. With rising levels, deep tendon reflexes
are lost, followed by somnolence, then respiratory and cardiac arrest.
What are treatments for hyPERmagnesemia? - ANS Diuretics, calcium gluconate or calcium
chloride.
What is hyPOmagnesemia? - ANS A low serum magnesium level. < 1.5 mEq/L
What is the cause of hyPOmagnesemia? - ANS Malnutrition, alcoholism, diarrhea, vomiting
What are the manifestations of hyPOmagnesemia? - ANS Neuromuscular and CNS
hyperirritability
What is the treatment for hyPOmagnesemia? - ANS Oral supplements. NUTS and NANNERS!!
3 Copyright ©2025 BRAINBARTER ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
, What is homeostasis? - ANS The state of equilibrium in the internal environment of the body,
naturally maintained by adaptive responses that promote healthy survival.
What is the primary component of the body? - ANS Water, accounting for approximately
60% of the body weight in the adult.
What are the two major fluid compartments in the body? - ANS 1. intracellular fluid (ICF), or
inside the cells, and 2. extracellular fluid (ECF), or outside the cells. ECF is composed of
interstitial fluid, plasma, and transcellular fluids.
What are three processes of movement of water and electrolytes between ECF and ICF? -
ANS Simple diffusion, facilitated diffusion, and active transport.
What two forces drive water movement? - ANS Hydrostatic pressure and osmotic pressure.
What is osmotic pressure? - ANS The amount of pressure required to stop the osmotic flow
of water.
What does the measure of osmolality indicate? - ANS The water balance of the body.
What is hydrostatic pressure? - ANS The force within a fluid compartment and is the major
force that pushes water out of the vascular system at the capillary level.
What is oncotic pressure? - ANS Osmotic pressure exerted by colloids in solution.
What is the major colloid in the vascular system that contributes to total oncotic pressure? -
ANS Protein
What are the four pressures acting on body fluids? - ANS (1) capillary hydrostatic pressure,
(2) plasma oncotic pressure, (3) interstitial hydrostatic pressure, and (4) interstitial oncotic
pressure.
4 Copyright ©2025 BRAINBARTER ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
