Page 238 - Saunders Comprehensive Review For NCLEX-RN

the extracellular fluid contains fewer
electrolytes or less solute than the
intracellular fluid.
e. Fluids and electrolytes must be kept in
balance for health; when they remain
out of balance, death can occur.
2. Isotonic solutions
a. When the solutions on both sides of a
selectively permeable membrane have
established equilibrium or are equal in
concentration, they are isotonic.
b. Isotonic solutions are isotonic to human
cells, and thus very little osmosis
occurs; isotonic solutions have the
same osmolality as body fluids.
c. Refer to Chapter 69, Table 69-1, for a list
of solutions, types, and uses.
3. Hypotonic solutions
a. When a solution contains a lower
concentration of salt or solute than
another, more concentrated solution, it
is considered hypotonic.
b. A hypotonic solution has less salt or
more water than an isotonic solution;
these solutions have lower osmolality
than body fluids.
c. Hypotonic solutions are hypotonic to
the cells; therefore, osmosis would
continue in an attempt to bring about
balance or equality.
d. Refer to Chapter 69, Table 69-1, for a list
of solutions, types, and uses.
4. Hypertonic solutions
a. A solution that has a higher
concentration of solutes than another,
less concentrated solution is
hypertonic; these solutions have a
higher osmolality than body fluids.
b. Refer to Chapter 69, Table 69-1, for a list
of solutions, types, and uses.
5. Osmotic pressure
a. The amount of osmotic pressure is
determined by the concentration of
solutes in solution.
b. When the solutions on each side of a
selectively permeable membrane are
equal in concentration, they are
isotonic.

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