FRESENIUS PCT Real Exam
Questions and Answers
1. What are the anatomical structures of the urinary system
in order of urine flow?: (2) Kidneys, (2) ureters, (1) bladder, (1)
urethra.
2. Which of the functions of healthy kidneys are replaced by
dialysis?: Re- moval of waste products, and Regulation of fluid
balance
3. What is the function of renin?: Renin is a hormone produced by
the kidneys with important effects on the regulation of blood
pressure, and on sodium and potassium balance
4. Erythropoietin: stimulates the bone marrow to produce red
blood cells (RBSc).
5. Why must the kidney activate Vitamin D?: The kidney
converts Vitamin D to Calcitriol, its activated form. This activated
form of Vitamin D helps to maintain good bone health by helping
absorb calcium from foods eaten
6. What causes renal osteodystrophy (bone disease)?: No
longer produce calcitriol - the active form of Vitamin D o Inadequate
or lacking calcitriol causes dem- ineralization of the bone - bone
begins to break down to release the calcium needed for body
,functioning No longer excrete excess phosphorus (PO4) o
Phosphorus is found in most foods and beverages o Increased
PO4 levels cause further calcium bone loss
7. What are the body fluid compartments?: Intracellular-inside
the cells • Extra- cellular-outside the cells • Intravascular-inside
the blood vessels • Interstitial-be- tween the cells
8. What is homeostasis?: Maintaining a stable internal
environment
9. uremia: build up of waste
10. What is a semi-permeable membrane?: A membrane made
from protein, with small pores or holes. Only certain molecules
can fit through.
11. At what point during the hemodialysis treatment will
diffusion cease to occur?: Diffusion will continue throughout the
dialysis treatment until the concen- tration of each electrolyte
found in the patient's blood is equal to the electrolyte
concentration in the dialysate.
12. What is countercurrent flow?: Blood and dialysate flow in
opposite directions
13. What happens to diffusion when dialyzer fibers clot?:
Clotted fibers cause the permeability of the fiber to be reduced or
eliminated, causing a decrease in treatment adequacy. As a result
, , diffusion does not occur as particles cannot diffuse across the
membrane.
14. What are the compartments of the dialyzer and what
separates them?: The blood compartment is separated from the
dialysate compartment by a semi-perme- able membrane. The
blood and dialysate do not mix together.
15. What are three types of solutions?: • Hypotonic-containing
less particles • Isotonic-containing equal particles • Hypertonic-
containing more particles
16. When is it known that a patient has developed sensitivity
to a dialyzer?: - Patients develop mild to severe reactions in
some cases, usually seen the first half hour of treatment.
Sneezing, itching, pain at the access site, chest pain, rashing,
hives, fever, all may be symptoms of dialyzer membrane allergy,
or allergy to the sterilant used in the manufacturing process
17. What volume should be used for fresh fill/run off?: 50 ml of
saline should be drained from the arterial line and 250 ml should
be drained from the venous line
18. When dialyzing a patient, what position should the
dialyzer be in during hemodialysis?: Place the dialyzer arterial
end up during the treatment.
19. What should be checked on a dialyzer before machine set
up?: The dialyzer should be checked for sterility (the dialyzer
Questions and Answers
1. What are the anatomical structures of the urinary system
in order of urine flow?: (2) Kidneys, (2) ureters, (1) bladder, (1)
urethra.
2. Which of the functions of healthy kidneys are replaced by
dialysis?: Re- moval of waste products, and Regulation of fluid
balance
3. What is the function of renin?: Renin is a hormone produced by
the kidneys with important effects on the regulation of blood
pressure, and on sodium and potassium balance
4. Erythropoietin: stimulates the bone marrow to produce red
blood cells (RBSc).
5. Why must the kidney activate Vitamin D?: The kidney
converts Vitamin D to Calcitriol, its activated form. This activated
form of Vitamin D helps to maintain good bone health by helping
absorb calcium from foods eaten
6. What causes renal osteodystrophy (bone disease)?: No
longer produce calcitriol - the active form of Vitamin D o Inadequate
or lacking calcitriol causes dem- ineralization of the bone - bone
begins to break down to release the calcium needed for body
,functioning No longer excrete excess phosphorus (PO4) o
Phosphorus is found in most foods and beverages o Increased
PO4 levels cause further calcium bone loss
7. What are the body fluid compartments?: Intracellular-inside
the cells • Extra- cellular-outside the cells • Intravascular-inside
the blood vessels • Interstitial-be- tween the cells
8. What is homeostasis?: Maintaining a stable internal
environment
9. uremia: build up of waste
10. What is a semi-permeable membrane?: A membrane made
from protein, with small pores or holes. Only certain molecules
can fit through.
11. At what point during the hemodialysis treatment will
diffusion cease to occur?: Diffusion will continue throughout the
dialysis treatment until the concen- tration of each electrolyte
found in the patient's blood is equal to the electrolyte
concentration in the dialysate.
12. What is countercurrent flow?: Blood and dialysate flow in
opposite directions
13. What happens to diffusion when dialyzer fibers clot?:
Clotted fibers cause the permeability of the fiber to be reduced or
eliminated, causing a decrease in treatment adequacy. As a result
, , diffusion does not occur as particles cannot diffuse across the
membrane.
14. What are the compartments of the dialyzer and what
separates them?: The blood compartment is separated from the
dialysate compartment by a semi-perme- able membrane. The
blood and dialysate do not mix together.
15. What are three types of solutions?: • Hypotonic-containing
less particles • Isotonic-containing equal particles • Hypertonic-
containing more particles
16. When is it known that a patient has developed sensitivity
to a dialyzer?: - Patients develop mild to severe reactions in
some cases, usually seen the first half hour of treatment.
Sneezing, itching, pain at the access site, chest pain, rashing,
hives, fever, all may be symptoms of dialyzer membrane allergy,
or allergy to the sterilant used in the manufacturing process
17. What volume should be used for fresh fill/run off?: 50 ml of
saline should be drained from the arterial line and 250 ml should
be drained from the venous line
18. When dialyzing a patient, what position should the
dialyzer be in during hemodialysis?: Place the dialyzer arterial
end up during the treatment.
19. What should be checked on a dialyzer before machine set
up?: The dialyzer should be checked for sterility (the dialyzer
