Dialysis Technician Practice Exam

Shriveling of red blood cells is known as?

1. Crenation

2. Hemolysis

3. Cytolysis

4. Lyse

The correct answer is: Crenation

Shriveling of red blood cells is termed crenation, which occurs when cells lose water due to osmosis, typically when they are exposed to a hypertonic solution. In this situation, the surrounding fluid has a higher concentration of solutes than the interior of the cells, prompting water to move out of the red blood cells. Consequently, the cells shrink and take on a scalloped or notched appearance. Understanding crenation is crucial in the context of dialysis and the management of patients with kidney issues, as it can reflect the osmotic balance that is vital for maintaining proper cellular function. Hemolysis refers to the breakdown of red blood cells, cytolysis describes the bursting of cells due to osmotic pressure in a hypotonic solution, and lysis generally refers to the disintegration of cells but doesn't specifically indicate the shrunken state observed in crenation.