Questions: What is the role of osmosis in the dialysis process?

The answer is the second one: Osmosis moves excess fluids from the blood to the dialysate for removal.

Explanation for each option:

1. Osmosis moves small waste molecules from the blood to the dialysate for removal.

   • Incorrect. The movement of small waste molecules from the blood to the dialysate is primarily due to diffusion, not osmosis.

2. Osmosis moves excess fluids from the blood to the dialysate for removal.

   • Correct. Osmosis is the process by which water moves across a semipermeable membrane from an area of lower solute concentration to an area of higher solute concentration. In dialysis, osmosis helps remove excess fluids from the blood by moving water into the dialysate.

3. Osmosis moves excess fluids from the dialysate to the blood to replenish the patient.

   • Incorrect. The goal of dialysis is to remove excess fluids from the blood, not to add fluids to it.

4. Osmosis moves large components like blood cells and proteins to the dialysate for removal.

   • Incorrect. Large components such as blood cells and proteins are too large to pass through the semipermeable membrane used in dialysis and are not removed by osmosis.

Summary: Osmosis plays a crucial role in the dialysis process by moving excess fluids from the blood to the dialysate for removal, helping to maintain fluid balance in the patient's body.