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Multiple Choice
Decreased volume and increased concentration of the extracellular fluid (ECF) is defined as:
A
Isotonic expansion
B
Hypertonic dehydration
C
Hypotonic overhydration
D
Hypotonic dehydration
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the key terms: 'extracellular fluid (ECF)' refers to the fluid outside of cells, and 'decreased volume' means there is less fluid present. 'Increased concentration' indicates that the solute concentration in the ECF has risen, making it more concentrated.
Review the concept of tonicity: Tonicity describes the relative concentration of solutes in a solution compared to another solution. A 'hypertonic' solution has a higher solute concentration, while a 'hypotonic' solution has a lower solute concentration.
Analyze the condition described: Decreased ECF volume means water has been lost from the extracellular space. Increased concentration suggests that the solutes have not been lost at the same rate as water, leading to a hypertonic state.
Match the condition to the options: 'Hypertonic dehydration' describes a state where water loss exceeds solute loss, resulting in a hypertonic ECF. This matches the description provided in the problem.
Eliminate incorrect options: 'Isotonic expansion' refers to an increase in ECF volume without a change in concentration. 'Hypotonic overhydration' involves excess water diluting the ECF, and 'Hypotonic dehydration' involves water loss with a decrease in solute concentration. None of these match the described condition.