Question

Nurse Alice and Nurse Bette Discover Diffusion

Alice and Bette were roommates during nursing school. They are both committed to becoming qualified, practicing nurses. However, Alice hated the basic biology classes required for her degree and wanted to move to clinical work. Alice loved taking care of people, but did not enjoy the science inherent in the nursing profession. Bette has been helping Alice with chemistry and biology. This semester they are finally getting to learn some practical skills.

Last week, Alice and Bette learned about intramuscular and intravenous injections. Their instructor suggested that they get the feel for the syringe by injecting water into an orange. Alice did that last night and was eager to practice for real. She decided to practice on herself, but knew it was dangerous to inject anything that was not sterile. She brought home a small bottle of distilled water with which to practice. Alice gave herself three intramuscular injections in the arm and felt pretty sore. She was confused because she had used a small-gauge needle and small volumes of water. Just as she was about to practice an intravenous injection, Bette came in and gasped. She was shocked at what her roommate had done and grabbed the syringe away from her before she could do worse damage. Alice didn’t understand why her arm was sore or why Bette had reacted so severely. Bette knew Alice hadn’t really paid attention when they were supposed to be learning about osmosis and diffusion. Help her explain to her roommate why we need to practice injections with a physiologically isotonic solution.

Was Alice injecting herself with a hypotonic or hypertonic solution? Explain.

What happens to cells when they are in a hypertonic solution?

What happens to cells when they are in a hypotonic solution?

What happens to cells when they are in an isotonic solution?

Water can enter the cell through several mechanisms. Explain the differences between diffusion and active transport.

What role do carrier proteins have in these processes?

Adapted from “Case Studies for Understanding the Human Body”

Please answer all of these questions completely step by step and typed clearly. NO PIC..

Answer 1

Was Alice injecting herself with a hypotonic or hypertonic solution? Explain.

Alice injected herself with a hypotonic solution. As water is hypotonic to the blood.

What happens to cells when they are in a hypertonic solution?

In a hypertonic solution, cells shrink as they lose water.

What happens to cells when they are in a hypotonic solution?

When cells are kept in a hypotonic solution then the cells swell.

What happens to cells when they are in an isotonic solution?

When cells are kept in isotonic solution then there is no change in the shape of the cell.

Water can enter the cell through several mechanisms. Explain the differences between diffusion and active transport.

There are two processes-

Diffusion- It is a process in which substances pass through the cell without the use of ATP. Substances pass from higher concentration to lower concentration.

Active transport- It is a process in which substances pass through the cell with the use of ATP. Substances pass from lower concentration to higher concentration.

What role do carrier proteins have in these processes?

Carrier proteins are the proteins that help to transport substances from outside the cell to inside the cell. Polar substances pass through these proteins.