Question

Which layer of the centrifuged blood would indicate dehydration?

1) Plasma
2) Platelets
3) Red blood cells
4) Serum

Answer 1

The red blood cells (erythrocytes) layer in a centrifuged blood sample would indicate dehydration due to an elevated hematocrit level, which reflects a higher concentration of red blood cells caused by reduced plasma volume.

Step-by-step explanation:

The layer of the centrifuged blood that would indicate dehydration is the erythrocytes, or red blood cells. In a state of dehydration, there is less plasma volume, which leads to an increase in the proportion of red blood cells, a condition known as hemoconcentration. The hematocrit is the measurement of the percentage of the total blood volume that is made up of red blood cells. When the body is dehydrated, the plasma volume decreases, resulting in a higher hematocrit level, thus indicating a higher concentration of erythrocytes compared to the normal range. This means that option (3) Red blood cells would be the indicator of dehydration in a centrifuged blood sample.