Question

  Why does the hematocrit rise when a person is dehydrated?

	A.	An increase in plasma electrolyte concentration is recorded on the hematocrit.
	B.	Edema occurs, meaning water moves from the circulation into the interstitial fluid.
	C.	Sweat is mainly water and when the water content of blood decreases the hematocrit is increased.
	D.	Sweat is mainly water and when the water content of blood decreases the hematocrit is decreased.

2.   What values are correct for cation concentrations in plasma?

	A.	Protein = 7%
	B.	Cl- = 140 mM
	C.	Ca2+ 1 µM
	D.	Na+ 139 mM

3. Albumins:

		A. Account for ~30% of the plasma proteins. They function as immunoglobulins which attack foreign proteins, and also transport hormones.
		B. Account for ~70% of the plasma proteins. They function as immunoglobulins which attack foreign proteins, and also transport apolipoproteins.
		C. Account for ~70% of the plasma proteins and are major contributors of plasma osmolarity.
		D. Are the most abundant plasma protein and are the major contributor of the osmotic pressure of formed elements.

Answer 1

1. Sweat is mainly water and when the water content of blood decreases the hematocrit is increased.

On dehydration, the water content of the blood decreases and the water content is generally released in the form of sweat. When the water is decreased from the blood plasma, the amount of blood volume also decreases and hence we see high amount of RBCs per unit volume of blood. This result in high level hematocrit. It generally takes place in a disease condition known as polycythemia vera.

2. Na + 139 mM

Sodium is the chief cation present in plasma and its value varies from 135 to 145 mM. The calcium cation amount given in the option is only the amount of free calcium ion of the plasma.

3. Account for ~70% of the plasma proteins and are major contributor of plasma osmolarity.

Plasma osmolarity is also known as oncotic pressure or colloid osmotic pressure and is maintained by the albumin protein of the blood plasma.

Immunoglobulins are different kind of proteins other than the albumin proteins of blood plasma.