Question

If a doctor injected a patient with what was labeled as an isotonic saline solution, but then the patient died, and an autopsy revealed that several of the patient's red blood cells had burst, such as in the image on the right, would it be true that the injected solution was really isotonic? Why or why not?

a) Yes, because isotonic solutions can cause cell lysis under certain conditions.
b) No, as isotonic solutions should not lead to cell rupture.
c) Yes, but only if the patient had a pre-existing medical condition.
d) No, isotonic solutions always maintain cell integrity.

Answer 1

The injected solution was not really isotonic, as isotonic solutions should not lead to cell rupture.

Step-by-step explanation:

The injected solution was not really isotonic, so the answer is b) False, as isotonic solutions should not lead to cell rupture. Isotonic solutions have the same osmotic pressure as the cells, meaning that water moves in and out of the cells at the same rate, maintaining their shape and integrity. In this case, if the red blood cells burst, it suggests that the solution had a higher concentration than the cells, making it hypertonic. The higher concentration of solutes in the solution caused water to leave the red blood cells, resulting in their rupture.