Final answer:
The statement that premature neonates have greater plasma volume is false. Premature babies have challenges with various bodily functions and can have difficulty with lung inflation due to insufficient pulmonary surfactant. Gestational age and birth weight are critical factors affecting the health of premature newborns.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that premature neonates have greater plasma volume is false. Premature neonates can have different plasma volumes depending on various factors; however, prematurity generally leads to physiological challenges rather than an increase in plasma volume. Preterm babies are at risk for various health issues due to underdeveloped organ systems, particularly the respiratory and nervous systems. The efficiency and capacity of their bodily systems, including the circulatory system and blood volume regulation, can be critically underdeveloped.
The gestational age and birth weight are significant factors in determining a neonate's health status. Premature babies, especially those born before type II cells in the lungs have produced sufficient pulmonary surfactant, may have difficulty inflating their lungs, which is an essential function for proper blood flow and gas exchange post-birth.
Therefore, the accurate answer to the question is B) False, as prematurity does not inherently confer a greater plasma volume. Factors such as gestational age and birth weight play a critical role in the overall health and physiological status of a premature baby.