Explain why red blood cells can be maintained in an intact state by keeping them in a normal saline solution.

Red blood cells can be maintained in an intact state by keeping them in a

normal saline solution because the solution is Isotonic.

Isotonic solutions possesses the same osmotic pressure or equal

concentration of solutes and this aids free movement of solute in and out of

the cell via the semi-permeable membrane.

The solution must be isotonic to enable the red blood cells remain intact

thereby preventing swelling or shrinking of the cells.

Read more about Osmosis here link

The solution is isotonic.

Explanation:

Saline solututions are mixtures of salt and water. In a normal saline solution, red blood cells maintain their shape. This is because the saline solution is isotonic. Essentially it has the same concentration as inside the red blood cell.

The water does not move down a particular gradient, thus the shape remains unchanged.

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