Question

The net movement is out of the vessel. Sodium (mmol/L) Matrix 137 Blood 114 Pressure Matrix 27 (High)

Using the sodium data you collected and what you have learned from the seizure handbook, why are the free water molecules diffusing out of the vessel?

Answer 1

Water molecules are diffusing out of the vessel due to osmosis, as they move from an area of low sodium concentration (blood) to high (matrix), balancing the osmotic pressure created by differing sodium concentrations.

Step-by-step explanation:

The free water molecules are diffusing out of the vessel due to the osmotic gradient created by the different sodium concentrations in the matrix and the blood. In the provided scenario, the sodium concentration in the matrix is higher (137 mmol/L) compared to that of the blood (114 mmol/L). As sodium is the major cation responsible for osmotic pressure, water moves from the area of lower solute concentration (blood) to higher solute concentration (matrix) to balance the osmotic pressure. This is further influenced by the hydrostatic pressure in the matrix being high, which tends to push water out of the vessel. This movement of water follows the basic principles of osmosis, which is a passive transport mechanism, and is also discussed in the context of conditions such as hypernatremia, where there is an abnormal increase in blood sodium levels.