Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT) Practice Test

The term that describes an IV fluid solution containing proteins or large starch molecules is colloid. Colloids are solutions that have larger particles and are capable of remaining suspended in the solution, which helps maintain oncotic pressure and contributes to fluid retention in the vascular system. This characteristic makes colloids particularly useful for expanding blood volume in patients who are hypovolemic or in need of volume resuscitation.

In contrast, crystalloid solutions consist of smaller molecules that can easily pass through vascular membranes, which makes them less effective for volume expansion in comparison to colloids. Analgesic refers to a type of medication used for pain relief and is unrelated to IV fluid types, while dextrose typically refers to a sugar solution that can also be used in IV fluids, but it does not describe a solution containing proteins or large starch molecules. Colloids, therefore, are specifically recognized for their role in IV therapy when larger molecules are needed to influence fluid distribution and volume status within the body.