hypotonicity
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun (Physiology): A state of abnormally low tension or tone, particularly in muscular tissue.
- Noun (Chemistry/Biology): The property of a solution having a lower osmotic pressure (lower solute concentration) than another specified solution, typically a bodily fluid like blood or cytoplasm.
Usage Examples
- Noun (Physiology):
- The infant's muscle hypotonicity was a key symptom noted by the pediatrician.
- The neurological disorder caused generalized hypotonicity, making it difficult for the patient to maintain posture.
- Noun (Chemistry/Biology):
- The hypotonicity of the intravenous fluid caused water to move into the patient's red blood cells.
- When a cell is placed in a solution with significant hypotonicity, it may swell and potentially lyse.
Advanced Usage
- Comparative Hypotonicity: The term is often used in a comparative sense. A solution is described as having relative to another (e.g., "The external solution showed compared to the cell's cytoplasm").
- Clinical Context: In medicine, is a diagnostic finding. "The patient presented with " is a standard clinical observation for conditions affecting muscle or nerve function.
Variants and Related Words
- Hypotonic (adjective): Describing the state of having low tone or low osmotic pressure.
- The patient had hypotonic muscles.
- A hypotonic solution was administered.
- Hypotonia (noun): A near-synonym in a medical/physiological context, specifically referring to decreased muscle tone.
- Benign congenital hypotonia is a condition in infants.
Synonyms
- (Physiology): Flaccidity, low tone, atonia (in specific contexts).
- (Solution): Low osmotic pressure, low solute concentration (relative term).
Antonyms
- (Physiology): Hypertonicity, spasticity, rigidity.
- (Solution): Hypertonicity (higher osmotic pressure), isotonicity (equal osmotic pressure).
Noun
- (of muscular tissue) the state of being hypotonic
- (of a solution) the extent to which a solution has a lower osmotic pressure than some other