Serous Fluid Textbook Questions

Question 1

Which of the following statements about serous fluid–filled body cavities is true?
1. A parietal membrane is attached firmly to the body cavity wall.
2. Serous fluid acts as a lubricant between opposing membranes.
3. A serous membrane is composed of a single layer of flat mesothelial cells.
4. The visceral and parietal membranes of an organ are actually a single continuous membrane.
A. 1, 2, and 3 are correct.
B. 1 and 3 are correct.
C. 4 is correct.
D. All are correct.

Answer 1

D. All are correct.

Question 2

Which of the following mechanisms is responsible for the formation of serous fluid in body cavities?
A. Ultrafiltration of circulating blood plasma
B. Selective absorption of fluid from the lymphatic
system
C. Diuresis of solutes and water across a concentration gradient
D. Active secretion by mesothelial cells that line the
serous membranes

Answer 2

A. Ultrafiltration of circulating blood plasma

Question 3

Which of the following conditions enhances the
formation of serous fluid in a body cavity?
A. Increased lymphatic absorption
B. Increased capillary permeability
C. Increased plasma oncotic pressure
D. Decreased capillary hydrostatic pressure

Answer 3

B. Increased capillary permeability

Question 4

The pathologic accumulation of fluid in a body cavity is called
A. an abscess.
B. an effusion.
C. pleocytosis.
D. paracentesis.

Answer 4

B. an effusion.

Question 5

Paracentesis and serous fluid testing are performed
to
1. remove serous fluids that may be compress-
ing a vital organ.
2. determine the pathologic cause of an
effusion.
3. identify an effusion as a transudate or an
exudate.
4. prevent volume depletion caused by the accumulation of fluid in body cavities.
A. 1, 2, and 3 are correct.
B. 1 and 3 are correct. C. 4 is correct.
D. All are correct.

Answer 5

A. 1, 2, and 3 are correct.

Question 6

Thoracentesis refers specifically to the removal of fluid from the
A. abdominal cavity.
B. pericardial cavity.
C. peritoneal cavity.
D. pleural cavity.

Answer 6

D. pleural cavity.

Question 7

Which of the following parameters best identifies a
fluid as a transudate or an exudate?
A. Color and clarity
B. Leukocyte and differential counts
C. Total protein and specific gravity measurements
D. Total protein ratio and lactate dehydrogenase ratio

Answer 7

D. Total protein ratio and lactate dehydrogenase ratio

Question 8

Chylous and pseudochylous effusions are differentiated by their
A. physical examinations.
B. cholesterol concentrations.
C. triglyceride concentrations.
D. leukocyte and differential counts.

Answer 8

C. triglyceride concentrations.

Question 9

Which of the following conditions is most often associated with the formation of a transudate?
A. Pancreatitis
B. Surgical procedures
C. Congestive heart failure
D. Metastatic neoplasm

Answer 9

C. Congestive heart failure

Question 10

Match the type of serous effusion most often associated with each pathologic condition.

 Pathologic  Condition
\_\_ A. Neoplasms
\_\_ B. Hepatic cirrhosis
\_\_ C. Infection
\_\_ D. Rheumatoid arthritis 
\_\_ E. Trauma
\_\_ F. Nephrotic syndrome

1. Exudate
2. Transudate

Answer 10

A. Neoplasms - Exudate
B. Hepatic cirrhosis - Transudate
C. Infection - Exudate
D. Rheumatoid arthritis - Exudate
E. Trauma - Exudate
F. Nephrotic syndrome - Transudate

Question 11

Which of the following laboratory findings on an effusion does not indicate a specific diagnosis?
A. LE cells found during the microscopic
examination
B. A serous fluid glucose concentration less than 60 mg/dL
C. Microorganisms identified by Gram or acid-fast
stain
D. Malignant cells identified during the microscopic
or cytologic examination

Answer 11

B. A serous fluid glucose concentration less than 60 mg/dL

Question 12

An abnormally low fluid pH value is useful when
evaluating conditions associated with
A. pleural effusions.
B. pleural and pericardial effusions.
C. pericardial and peritoneal effusions.
D. pleural, pericardial, and peritoneal effusions.

Answer 12

A. pleural effusions.

Question 13

A pleural or peritoneal fluid amylase level two times higher than the serum amylase level can be found in effusions resulting from
A. pancreatitis.
B. hepatic cirrhosis.
C. rheumatoid arthritis. 
D. lymphatic obstruction.

Answer 13

A. pancreatitis.

Question 14

A glucose concentration difference greater than 30 mg/dL between the serum and an effusion is associated with
A. pancreatitis.
B. hepatic cirrhosis.
C. rheumatoid arthritis. 
D. lymphatic obstruction.

Answer 14

C. rheumatoid arthritis.

Question 15

Which of the following actions can adversely affect the chances of obtaining a positive stain or culture when performing microbiological studies on infectious serous fluid?
A. Using a large volume of serous fluid for the inoculum
B. Storing serous fluid specimens at refrigerator temperatures
C. Using an anticoagulant in the serous fluid collection container
D. Concentrating the serous fluid before preparing smears for staining

Answer 15

B. Storing serous fluid specimens at refrigerator temperatures