The word "anisotonic" is spelled with five syllables: /ænɪsoʊˈtɑnɪk/. The first syllable is pronounced with the short "a" sound followed by the "n" sound. The second syllable includes the three-letter cluster "s-o-h," which creates a unique sound. The third syllable starts with the long "o" sound and ends with the "n" sound. The fourth syllable is pronounced with the "t-a" sound followed by the "n-i-k" sound. In general, "anisotonic" refers to a solution having unequal osmotic pressure.
Anisotonic is an adjective that describes a substance or solution with variable or unequal osmotic pressure across different parts of the solution. The term stems from the Greek prefix "aniso," meaning unequal, and the Greek root "tonos," meaning tension or pressure. Anisotonic substances or solutions have varying concentrations of solute particles in different areas, resulting in the unequal distribution of pressure exerted by the solution.
In the context of biology and physiology, anisotonic solutions can have significant effects on cells and living organisms. When cells are exposed to anisotonic solutions, water will move from areas of lower solute concentration to areas of higher solute concentration in an attempt to equalize the osmotic pressure. This can cause the cells to swell or shrink, depending on the solute concentrations within and outside the cell. Anisotonic solutions are commonly used in scientific experiments and medical applications where the manipulation of cell size or the extraction of cellular components is needed.
Outside the field of biology, the term anisotonic may also have applications within physics and chemistry. In these domains, it may refer to materials with varying tensile or elastic properties in different directions. Anisotonic materials exhibit different behaviors or responses depending on the direction in which they are measured, highlighting their directional dependence.
Not having equal tension; having unequal osmotic pressure.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "anisotonic" is derived from two roots: "aniso-" and "tonic".
1. "Aniso-" comes from the Greek word "anisos", which means "unequal" or "not even". It is often used as a prefix in scientific terms to indicate a lack of symmetry or uniformity.
2. "Tonic" comes from the Greek word "tonikos", meaning "that which stretches or tightens". In scientific language, "tonic" refers to something that affects or pertains to the tension or osmotic pressure of a solution.
Thus, when combined, "anisotonic" refers to a solution or substance that has different concentrations or tensions in different directions. In various scientific fields such as physics, chemistry, and biology, it is used to describe situations where a property is not evenly distributed or is directionally dependent.