Solution: Osmosis through red blood cell walls. If water moves out of the red blood cell, it shrivels (crenation); if water moves into the red blood cell, it will swell and may burst (hemolysis).If the fluid su

Osmosis through red blood cell walls. If water moves out of the red blood cell, it shrivels (crenation); if water moves into the red blood cell, it will swell and may burst (hemolysis).

If the fluid surrounding a patient’s red blood cells is depleted in electrolytes, is crenation or hemolysis more likely to occur?