How does the body respond to a burn injury in terms of fluid shift?

The body's response to a burn injury involves several physiological changes, one of which is the significant leakage of plasma from damaged blood vessels. When the skin is burned, the integrity of blood vessels can be compromised, leading to a loss of plasma into the surrounding tissue. This process is called third spacing, where fluid moves out of the intravascular space into the interstitial space, resulting in edema.

This loss of plasma contributes to a decrease in circulating blood volume, which can lead to hypovolemic shock if not managed properly. As a result, fluid resuscitation is crucial in burn care to restore vascular volume, improve circulation, and maintain blood pressure. Understanding this fluid shift is essential for effective management and treatment of burn injuries, making the identification of plasma leakage as the correct response to a burn injury significant.

The other options do not accurately describe the body's immediate response to burn injuries. Increased blood volume and enhanced circulation to extremities are unlikely due to fluid loss, whereas a reduced metabolic rate does not occur in response to burns, as the body typically experiences an increased metabolic rate during the healing process.