What is the primary role of a buffer in bodily fluids?
To regulate blood pressure
To prevent drastic shifts in pH
To break down weak acids and bases
To maintain constant oxygen levels
The Correct Answer is B
A. To regulate blood pressure: Hemodynamics are regulated by the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and baroreceptor reflexes rather than chemical buffers. While pH can affect vascular tone, buffers do not directly manage intravascular volume or systemic resistance. Their focus is strictly on hydrogen ion concentration.
B. To prevent drastic shifts in pH: Buffers consist of a weak acid and its conjugate base that can either donate or accept protons to resist changes in acidity. They provide an immediate chemical defense against metabolic or respiratory insults. This keeps the systemic pH within a survivable physiological range.
C. To break down weak acids and bases: Buffers do not metabolize or break down substances; they participate in reversible chemical equilibria to neutralize excess ions. They transform strong acids into weak acids to minimize the impact on free hydrogen concentration. This is a stabilization process rather than a destructive one.
D. To maintain constant oxygen levels: Oxygen concentrations are managed by pulmonary ventilation and erythropoiesis to meet metabolic demands. While the bicarbonate system involves carbon dioxide transport, its primary function is not the regulation of oxygen. It manages the acid-base consequences of aerobic metabolism.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
False: Diuresis is the elevated excretion of urine, which typically follows the ingestion of large fluid volumes or the use of certain medications. It is the body's method of shedding excess water to maintain euvolemia. The term represents an increase, not a decrease, in renal output.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. Intracellular fluid and interstitial fluid: Intracellular fluid is located within the cytoplasm of the cells and is separated from the extracellular environment by the plasma membrane. It represents a distinct fluid compartment from the ECF. These two combined represent total body water.
B. Interstitial fluid and plasma: The ECF is divided into the fluid bathing the cells and the liquid component of the blood. Interstitial fluid accounts for approximately 75% of the ECF, while plasma constitutes the remaining 25%. They exchange nutrients and waste across capillary walls.
C. Blood and plasma: Plasma is actually a subcomponent of whole blood, which also includes formed elements like erythrocytes and leukocytes. This choice incorrectly lists a component and its whole as the two primary ECF divisions. It ignores the significant volume of interstitial fluid.
D. Lymph and plasma: While lymph is a component of the ECF, it is essentially modified interstitial fluid that has entered the lymphatic system. The primary large-scale division of the ECF remains the distinction between the intravascular plasma and the extravascular interstitial fluid.
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