TONICITY Meaning and
Definition
-
Tonicity is a term used in biology, specifically in the field of physiology and cell biology, to describe the state of a cell or fluid with regard to its concentration of solutes and its response to osmotic pressure. It refers to the ability of a solution to cause cells to gain or lose water.
The concept of tonicity is primarily related to the osmotic pressure between a cell or tissue and its external environment. A solution can be categorized as isotonic, hypotonic, or hypertonic based on its osmotic effect on cells.
An isotonic solution has the same concentration of solutes as the cytoplasm of cells, resulting in no net movement of water across the cell membrane. This means that there is no change in the overall volume or shape of cells when they are immersed in an isotonic solution.
A hypotonic solution has a lower concentration of solutes compared to the cytoplasm of cells, leading to a net flow of water into the cell. This causes the cell to swell and potentially burst.
In contrast, a hypertonic solution has a higher solute concentration compared to the cytoplasm of cells, resulting in a net flow of water out of the cell. This causes the cell to shrink and potentially shrink.
The understanding and regulation of tonicity are essential in various biological processes, such as maintaining the shape and integrity of cells, determining the direction of water movement, and facilitating proper cellular functions.
-
A state of normal elastic tension of the tissue, in virtue of which the parts are kept in shape and, as it were, alert and ready to functionate in response to a suitable stimulus.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
-
A state of healthy tension of muscular fibers while at rest.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
Common Misspellings for TONICITY
- ronicity
- fonicity
- gonicity
- yonicity
- 6onicity
- 5onicity
- tinicity
- tknicity
- tlnicity
- tpnicity
- t0nicity
- t9nicity
- tobicity
- tomicity
- tojicity
- tohicity
- tonucity
- tonjcity
- tonkcity
- tonicty
- toniciti
- torisity
- Monisity
- Atenicity
Etymology of TONICITY
The word "tonicity" is derived from the Latin word "tonus", meaning "tone" or "tension". "Tonus" is then combined with the suffix "-icity", which denotes a state or condition. Therefore, "tonicity" refers to the state or condition of having tone or tension. In medical and biological contexts, it specifically refers to the osmotic pressure or tension of a solution relative to another solution, typically a biological fluid or tissue.
Similar spelling words for TONICITY
- Teniacide,
- in-tensity,
- Taeniacide,
- shang-dynasty,
- tynset,
- tenicide,
- Downsyde,
- donizetti,
- dancettee,
- high-density,
- teenest,
- downiest,
- tyneside,
- DATEL-DIENST,
- dynast,
- tiniest,
- density,
- dynasty,
- townsite,
- tuniest,
- b-dienst,
- dienst,
- density-dependent,
- tensed,
- downside,
- twiniest,
- tunisite,
- tawniest,
- donizete,
- lower-density,
- DNHSTEA,
- probability-density,
- DNSSD,
- tenacity,
- neutral-density,
- DNCYT,
- townest,
- dunnest,
- tannest,
- Diagnost,
- tennist,
- Dynasta,
- downside-up,
- higher-density,
- TOAHNNEST,
- diagnosed,
- low-density,
- ex-tensity,
- Danced,
- taenicide,
- dunst,
- taeniicide,
- tanycyte,
- twinset,
- Dancette,
- dancetty,
- bone-density,
- deionised,
- medium-density,
- towniest,
- double-density,
- Tanzwut,
- tensity,
- dunciad,
- tonight,
- Downset,
- dagnasty,
- Donacidae,
- tanaiste,
- toniest,
- TNCED,
- dunniest,
- Tanist,
- teeniest,
- tinniest,
- dunest,
- downeast,
- dynaset,
- TANST,
- deionized,
- DYNASTEE,
- tinniswood,
- single-density,
- donosti.
Infographic
Add the infographic to your website:
