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Home Q & A Board Biology-Related Homework Help Cell Biology
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tonesack tonesack
wrote...
11 years ago
I wonder why saline solution is used in IVs if salt dehydrates cells, which is the last thing you want your cells to be if your sick.
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tony1995 Author
wrote...
#1
11 years ago
So they don't immediately get overhydrated.
wrote...
#2
11 years ago
If its pure water, in order to establish an isotonic environment, the cell would have to take in an infinite amount of water. Since it would constantly be drawing in water, it would explode, as would all of the other cells, and you would die.
wrote...
#3
11 years ago
The saline solution is mixed to be the same level of salt as your body is supposed to be.  It is EXCESS salt that dehydrates you - just the right amount merely maintains the proper balance.
ton
wrote...
#4
11 years ago
Salt and water are almost interchangeable... by infusing salt one can expect water to travel down its osmotic gradient from the lumen of the intestine actually allow the body to absorb MORE fluid.  If you just infused pure water, much of that water would travel out the gi tract and urine.  

Increased sodium in the blood generally leads to increased blood volume and not just a quick fix.
wrote...
#5
11 years ago
Saline is a balanced solution that has the same concentration as your plasma.
It is only 0.9% salt which you need to keep the blood cell membrane stable. If you injected pure H20 your red blood cells would burst.
wrote...
#6
11 years ago
Water always follows salt...so when you excrete the salt from your body, water follows it, which is why you become dehydrated. Normal saline, which is composed of sodium and chloride, is used in IV fluids because you have to provide electrolytes when you're rehydrating a patient, or else you will over-hyrdrate. IV fluids are not pure salt, Normal Saline is just 0.9%.
wrote...
#7
11 years ago
its something called dextrose thats put into the solution as well as saline to dillute the sodium (from the saline) in your bloodstream preventing you from getting dehydrated.
Tonbon1221 Author
wrote...
#8
11 years ago
The saline that is used is called Normal Saline.  It is called that because it closely mimics the osmotic pressure of the blood.  It is considered to be isotonic, 0.9%.  Salt by itself is very hypertonic, and when put on the skin dehydrates it by drawing out water.
wrote...
#9
11 years ago
you need a constant supply of salt because it is used all throughout your body to maintain homeostasis. the problem with having too higher a concentration is that all of the water in your cells is pulled out of them trying to settle the differences in concentration.
when one is dehydrated they will generally have low salt levels too. ie from vomitting or sweating etc. so it needs to be replaced
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