Question

Hamilton was injured in a biking accident. While waiting for an ambulance, he was given intravenous (IV) fluids. At the hospital, an intern found that many of his red blood cells were swollen or bursting. The attending doctor requested to see the IV fluids used and found that Hamilton had been given IV fluids that:_________

Answer 1

Answer:

The Red blood cell swells and burst because the IV fluid is Hypotonic (contains more water or solvent ) to the red blood cell, the red blood cell is consequently hypertonic (it contains more solute ) to the IV fluid In other to maintain balance, the red blood cell to absorbed more water from the IV fluid via the process of osmosis this eventually led to swelling and bursting of the red blood cell. This process is is known as hemolysis