Is human sweat considered to be hypertonic, hypotonic, or isotonic? (remaining follow up questions and more info under)

Question

1. Patient reports urinating only once in the past 6 hours. Urine produced was very dark colored. Patient is irritable and confused (unsure of date, time or his location).
2. Pulse 100
3. Respirations: 26
4. Blood pressure 90/58 mmHg Body temperature 100.6 degrees F

                                            

1. Would you expect Tyler’s blood to be hypertonic, hypotonic or isotonic?
2. What would happen to Tyler’s red blood cells if the medics accidentally administered large amounts of sterile water in his I.V. instead of saline solution?
3. Tyler produced a very small amount of dark colored urine 6 hours ago. What hormone involved in fluid regulation is responsible for the low volume and dark color of the urine? Explain.
4. Describe why understanding microscopic anatomy is helpful when studying gross anatomy?

Answer 1

Total body water is distributed into extracellular (1/3 of total body water) and intracellular (2/3 of total body water) compartments. In dehydration, fluid from the extracellular compartment is depleted first, followed by fluid from the intracellular space. Fluid loss from the intracellular space results in cellular shrinkage and metabolic dysfunction. This would result in Tyler having hypertonic blood. There is more solutes in his blood than in the cells leading water to leave the cell. Tyler is severely dehydrated causing the moderate fever, high pulse rate, increased breath rate, low blood pressure and dark and infrequent urine.

Since sterile water is hypotonic, if Tyler was given sterile water while his blood cells were crenated (shriveled up), it would cause his blood cells to swell and burst.

Antidiuretic hormone (ADH) is the hormone that regulates fluid balance.

In order to understand gross anatomy we also need to study microscopic anatomy. Without microscopic anatomy we wouldn't be able to understand how organs and organ systems operate without know the cellular and tissue levels. It can make the difference of saving a live versus not.