What is the key component used to alter blood in hemodialysis?

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Dialysate is the key component used in hemodialysis to alter the composition of blood. This specially formulated fluid is essential for the process of dialysis, where it facilitates the removal of waste products and excess substances from the blood. The composition of dialysate is designed to create a concentration gradient that allows for the diffusion of solutes such as urea, creatinine, and electrolytes from the blood into the dialysate, effectively cleansing the blood and helping to maintain homeostasis.

While anticoagulants are important in preventing blood clotting during dialysis, they do not directly alter the components of the blood like dialysate does. Hemoglobin, on the other hand, is a molecule found in red blood cells that carries oxygen, and serum refers to the liquid portion of blood that remains after clotting occurs. Neither of these plays a direct role in the alteration of blood during the hemodialysis process as dialysate does.

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