What is a consequence of water loss from the body?

What is a consequence of water loss from the body?

• A. Increased plasma volume
• B. No change in osmolality
• C. Decreased blood osmolality
• D. Increased blood osmolality and dehydration

Answer: (D)

When body water is lost, the remaining solutes become more concentrated in the blood, raising blood osmolality. This hyperosmolar state pulls water out of cells, leading to cellular dehydration, and overall fluid loss reduces plasma (blood) volume, contributing to dehydration. That combination—higher blood osmolality with dehydration—is the key consequence of losing body water. Increased plasma volume would imply fluid gain, no change in osmolality would ignore the concentration effect, and decreased osmolality would require dilution rather than loss of water.

When body water is lost, the remaining solutes become more concentrated in the blood, raising blood osmolality. This hyperosmolar state pulls water out of cells, leading to cellular dehydration, and overall fluid loss reduces plasma (blood) volume, contributing to dehydration. That combination—higher blood osmolality with dehydration—is the key consequence of losing body water. Increased plasma volume would imply fluid gain, no change in osmolality would ignore the concentration effect, and decreased osmolality would require dilution rather than loss of water.