Question

What would happen if your water intake over 60 minutes significantly exceeded the maximal volume you could excrete in this period? Why could this be life threatening?

Answer 1

Condition when Intake= Output

Maximal Flow Rate = 60ml / min x 80 mins = 4800ml

The kidney has the capacity to excrete excess water in the body. The kidney has the mechanism as follows: this increase in blood volume decreases the sympathetic stimulation of the arterioles of the nephron particularly the afferent arteriole. This results then to the dilatation of the vessel and there is an initial rise in the glomerular filtration and Increase urine output, excreting the excess fluid. If a person Intake of water exceeds the maximal volume that can be excreted there will be more water in the plasma. This will dilute solute concentration and plasma concentration will be hyposmotic. This event can be life threatening because hyposmotic plasma will cause fluid to enter the interstitial spaces and eventually to the cell. It will increase cell volume than normal causing water intoxication.