Nursing: Physical Health Status, Osmosis, and Renal Alkalosis

This assignment delves into key concepts of physical health in nursing. It begins by defining osmosis as the movement of solvent molecules across a semipermeable membrane and its importance in biological systems. The assignment then explains osmotic pressure. Furthermore, the assignment discusses acidosis and alkalosis, highlighting their causes and implications. Acidosis is linked to the kidneys' failure to excrete acids, leading to an acidic blood condition. Renal alkalosis is also explained, and the assignment references relevant sources to support the information provided. This assignment provides a clear understanding of these important concepts in nursing.

Running head: NURSING
Physical health status
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1NURSING
Answer 1
Osmosis refers to the spontaneous movement of solvent molecules such as, water,
across a selectively permeable membrane from a region of low solute concentration to an area
of higher solute concentration. The movement of solvent molecules is generally
unidirectional and helps in equalising the concentration of solute across both sides of the
membrane. Osmosis has been identified as an essential mechanism in biological system,
owing to the semi-permeability of all biological membranes that are impermeable to polar
and large molecules like proteins, ions, and polysaccharides, while displaying impermeability
to non-polar and hydrophobic molecules (Han et al. 2015). Osmotic pressure refers to the
minimum pressure that should be implemented with the aim of preventing inward movement
of a solvent through a semipermeable membrane, and also refers to the tendency of the
solution to incorporate a pure solvent through osmosis.
Answer 2
Acidosis and alkalosis refer to the onset of abnormal conditions in the human body
that are a direct manifestation of an imbalance that occurs in the pH of the blood. Renal
tubular acidosis (RTA) occurs due to failure of the kidneys in excreting acids into the urine,
thus turning the human blood acidic. Without appropriate treatment, long-lasting acidity in
the bloodstream causes kidney stones, growth retardation, chronic renal disease, bone
disease, and perhaps total renal failure. Presence of excess sodium also brings about an
increase in extracellular volume, followed by a loss of necessary hydrogen ions (Batlle, Chin-
Theodorou and Tucker 2017). This condition is called renal alkalosis and increases the pH of
the blood beyond 7.35–7.45.

2NURSING
References
Batlle, D., Chin-Theodorou, J. and Tucker, B.M., 2017. Metabolic acidosis or respiratory
alkalosis? Evaluation of a low plasma bicarbonate using the urine anion
gap. American Journal of Kidney Diseases, 70(3), pp.440-444.
Han, G., Zhang, S., Li, X. and Chung, T.S., 2015. Progress in pressure retarded osmosis
(PRO) membranes for osmotic power generation. Progress in Polymer science, 51,
pp.1-27.