isotonic solution
Noun: A solution that has the same concentration of solutes (and therefore the same osmotic pressure) as another specified solution, typically bodily fluids like blood or cytoplasm. When two isotonic solutions are separated by a semipermeable membrane, there is no net movement of water across the membrane.
An isotonic solution is primarily used in biological and medical contexts to describe a fluid that will not cause cells to shrink or swell due to water movement. It is crucial for maintaining cell shape and function. - It is often administered intravenously to rehydrate patients without damaging red blood cells. - It is used as a baseline for comparison when discussing hypotonic (lower solute concentration) and hypertonic (higher solute concentration) solutions.
Medical Context:
- Normal saline (0.9% sodium chloride) is an isotonic solution commonly used for intravenous drips.
- To prevent crenation or hemolysis, red blood cells must be suspended in an isotonic solution.
General Biological Context:
- The experiment required an isotonic solution to keep the plant cells at their normal turgor pressure.
- Marine invertebrates often have body fluids that are isotonic solutions relative to seawater.
- "Isotonic with respect to...": This phrase specifies the solution being compared.
- The intravenous fluid must be isotonic with respect to human blood plasma.
- Isotonic (adjective): Of or denoting a solution having the same osmotic pressure.
- An isotonic sports drink is designed for rapid hydration.
- Isotonicity (noun): The state or condition of being isotonic.
- Hypotonic Solution (noun): A solution with a lower solute concentration (and lower osmotic pressure) than another specified solution.
- Hypertonic Solution (noun): A solution with a higher solute concentration (and higher osmotic pressure) than another specified solution.
- Osmotic Pressure (noun): The pressure that would have to be applied to a pure solvent to prevent it from passing into a given solution by osmosis.
- Iso-osmotic solution: A solution with the same osmotic pressure. (Note: While often used interchangeably, "isotonic" specifically considers the effect on cell volume, whereas "iso-osmotic" is a more general physical chemistry term.)
- Physiological solution: A solution, like saline or Ringer's solution, that is isotonic with living tissue.
- Isotonic contraction: (In physiology) A type of muscle contraction where tension remains constant while the muscle's length changes. This is a different, specialized use of the word "isotonic."
- Osmotic balance: The state where the movement of water into and out of a cell is equal, which is maintained by an isotonic environment.
- a solution having the same osmotic pressure as blood