2023 · Q23
If the red blood cells (RBCs) of human blood are isolated and are diluted in normal saline (an isotonic solution to blood), what will happen to the RBCs?
General KnowledgeBiology
- AThe RBCs will swell
- BThe RBCs will swell and burst
- CThe RBCs will shrink
- DNo change in the diameters of the RBCs
Explanation
Normal saline (0.9% NaCl) is isotonic to human blood plasma — it has the same osmotic concentration as the fluid inside RBCs. With no osmotic gradient there is no net movement of water across the cell membrane, so the red blood cells neither swell nor shrink and their diameter is unchanged. Swelling/bursting would occur only in a hypotonic medium, shrinking in a hypertonic one.