Further Questions on this Topic
Further Questions on this Topic ( 18 Questions)
Increased hydrostatic pressure in the portal vein is one factor that causes ascites. The portal vein carries blood from the digestive organs to the liver for processing. However, when the liver is damaged by alcohol abuse, it becomes scarred and fibrotic, creating resistance to blood flow. This results in increased pressure in the portal vein and its branches, which forces fluid out of the capillaries into the abdominal cavity.
Decreased oncotic pressure in the plasma is another factor that causes ascites. Oncotic pressure is the force exerted by proteins in the plasma that attracts fluid into the capillaries from the interstitial space. However, when the liver is damaged by alcohol abuse, it cannot produce enough proteins, such as albumin and globulin, which are essential for maintaining oncotic pressure. This results in decreased oncotic pressure in the plasma and increased fluid movement into the interstitial space and the abdominal cavity.
Increased aldosterone secretion by the adrenal glands is another factor that causes ascites. Aldosterone is a hormone that regulates the balance of sodium and water in the body. It acts on the kidneys to increase the reabsorption of sodium and water from the urine into the blood. However, when the liver is damaged by alcohol abuse, it cannot metabolize aldosterone properly, leading to its accumulation in the blood. This results in increased sodium and water retention in the body and increased fluid movement into the interstitial space and the abdominal cavity.
Ascites is caused by a combination of factors that affect the fluid balance in the abdominal cavity.
Choice A reason:
Increased hydrostatic pressure in the portal vein is one factor that causes ascites. The portal vein carries blood from the digestive organs to the liver for processing. However, when the liver is damaged by alcohol abuse, it becomes scarred and fibrotic, creating resistance to blood flow. This results in increased pressure in the portal vein and its branches, which forces fluid out of the capillaries into the abdominal cavity.
Choice B reason:
Decreased oncotic pressure in the plasma is another factor that causes ascites. Oncotic pressure is the force exerted by proteins in the plasma that attracts fluid into the capillaries from the interstitial space. However, when the liver is damaged by alcohol abuse, it cannot produce enough proteins, such as albumin and globulin, which are essential for maintaining oncotic pressure. This results in decreased oncotic pressure in the plasma and increased fluid movement into the interstitial space and the abdominal cavity.
Choice C reason:
Increased aldosterone secretion by the adrenal glands is another factor that causes ascites. Aldosterone is a hormone that regulates the balance of sodium and water in the body. It acts on the kidneys to increase the reabsorption of sodium and water from the urine into the blood. However, when the liver is damaged by alcohol abuse, it cannot metabolize aldosterone properly, leading to its accumulation in the blood. This results in increased sodium and water retention in the body and increased fluid movement into the interstitial space and the abdominal cavity.
Choice D reason:
Ascites is caused by a combination of factors that affect the fluid balance in the abdominal cavity.