Final answer:
d. furosemide. The blank in the list of diuretics should be filled with 'furosemide,' a loop diuretic that increases urine output and is used to treat hypertension and edema.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer to the question “Diuretics include chlorothiazide, bumetanide, spironolactone, _______, and others” is d. furosemide. Diuretics are a class of medications that promote diuresis, which means they increase the excretion of water and salts through urine.
Furosemide, also known by its brand name Lasix, is a loop diuretic, which works on the ascending limb of the loop of Henle in the kidney, inhibiting the reabsorption of sodium (Na+) and chloride (Cl-) ions.
This inhibition leads to an increase in urine volume, as water passively follows the ions to maintain osmotic balance, which makes them effective for treating conditions such as hypertension and edema.
Loop diuretics are useful because by inhibiting the reabsorption of these ions, they reduce the overall fluid volume within the body's circulatory system.
The reduced fluid volume results in a decrease in blood pressure, which is beneficial for patients with hypertension. Additionally, by increasing urine output, diuretics help to reduce fluid retention in conditions associated with edema, such as congestive heart failure.