Osmosis and tonicity
Topic: Anatomy & physiology
Osmosis is the movement of water across a semipermeable membrane from the side with fewer dissolved particles to the side with more. Tonicity describes a fluid's effect on cell volume: isotonic fluids (e.g., 0.9% sodium chloride) leave cell volume unchanged, hypotonic fluids draw water into cells and swell them, and hypertonic fluids pull water out of cells. This is why fluid overload and cerebral edema are monitored when IV fluids are chosen and infused.
- Also known as:
- Isotonic fluid, Hypotonic fluid, Hypertonic fluid
- In Turkish:
- Ozmoz ve tonisite
What does Osmosis and tonicity mean?
Osmosis and tonicity is part of the Anatomy & physiology topic in nursing. Students meet it in class, on clinical placements and while preparing for exams.
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