Chapter 19: Diuretic Agents

Chapter 19: Diuretic Agents

Complete Chapter Questions With Answers

Sample Questions Are Posted Below

MULTIPLE CHOICE

1. Which group of diuretic agents is the most potent?

ANS:  C

Loop diuretics are often called “high-ceiling” diuretics because they can cause 20% of the filtered load of sodium chloride and water to be excreted in the urine.

REF:   p. 322

2. ________ is a common complication in the use of loop diuretics.

ANS:  A

Because diuretics promote sodium and fluid excretion, elimination may exceed intake, resulting in hypovolemia. Preserving potassium balance has emerged as one of the most important factors in the management of hypertension. Potassium is exchanged for sodium in the distal convoluted tubule and collecting duct. Any diuretic that increases sodium delivery to those regions may potentially induce hypokalemia. In addition to a direct potassium loss, diuretic-induced volume depletion produces reabsorption of sodium via release of aldosterone in the distal tubule in an effort to bolster intravascular volume. Loop and thiazide diuretics have been associated with hyperglycemia.

REF:   p. 323

3. Any substance that increases urine flow is termed

ANS:  B

The main purpose of diuretics, or agents that increase urine output, is to eliminate excess fluid from the body. Introduced into medicine in 1958, diuretics are drugs that increase the excretion of solutes and water by directly increasing urine output. The preceding definition excludes agents, such as digitalis, that promote urine output without a direct action on the kidney. Generally, the primary goal of diuretic therapy is to reduce extracellular fluid volume to lower blood pressure or rid the body of excess interstitial fluid.

REF:   p. 319

4. The functional unit of the kidney is the

ANS:  D

The nephron is the functional unit of the kidney, similar to the alveolus in the lung. The nephron is composed of the glomerulus, proximal tubule, loop of Henle, distal tubule, and collecting duct. Although each kidney contains as many as 1 million nephrons, 75% of them may be compromised before renal disease is apparent.

REF:   p. 319

5. Approximately what percentage of cardiac output flows through the renal system per minute?

ANS:  B

Kidneys receive the highest blood flow per gram of organ weight in the body. Approximately 22% of the cardiac output, or about 1.1 L/min in a normal 70-kg adult, flows through the kidneys.

REF:   p. 319