Is aqueous humor considered hyperosmotic or hypoosmotic relative to blood plasma?

Study for the NBEO Ocular Physiology Exam. Utilize flashcards and multiple-choice questions to enhance your learning. Prepare effectively for your certification!

Aqueous humor is considered hypoosmotic relative to blood plasma. The osmolarity of aqueous humor is typically around 300 mOsm/L, which is lower than that of blood plasma, which averages about 285-295 mOsm/L.

This hypoosmotic nature of aqueous humor is important for its role in the eye. It ensures that adequate amounts of water and ions are present to maintain the necessary pressure in the anterior chamber and to provide nutrients to the avascular structures of the eye, such as the lens and cornea. The differences in osmolarity also help maintain proper fluid balance and facilitate the movement of substances across the corneal endothelium.

In this context, labeling aqueous humor as hyperosmotic would incorrectly suggest it has a higher concentration of solutes compared to blood plasma, which is not the case. Additionally, isosmotic and isoosmotic terms indicate equal osmotic pressure, which does not apply here since the aqueous humor has lower osmolarity compared to blood. Understanding this relationship highlights the importance of osmotic balance in ocular physiology.

Subscribe

Get the latest from Examzify

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy