hypertonic etymology

Etymology:

Hyper- (Greek): "over," "excessive" Tonic- (Greek): "stretching," "tension"

Meaning:

Hypertonic refers to a solution with a higher concentration of solutes than another solution or the surrounding environment. Solutes are substances that dissolve in a solvent, such as salt or sugar.

Origin:

The term "hypertonic" was first coined in the 19th century by the German physiologist Wilhelm Ludwig. Ludwig conducted experiments on the osmotic behavior of red blood cells, and he observed that when red blood cells are placed in a hypertonic solution, they shrink. This shrinkage is caused by the movement of water molecules out of the cells in an attempt to equalize the concentration of solutes on both sides of the cell membrane.

Usage:

The term "hypertonic" is commonly used in medicine, biology, and chemistry to describe solutions with a higher solute concentration. Hypertonic solutions can have various effects on living organisms, depending on the specific substance(s) dissolved and the concentration of the solution.

Examples:

  • A hypertonic saline solution is used to treat dehydration in emergency situations.
  • Hypertonic sodium chloride solutions are used to preserve food by inhibiting the growth of microorganisms.
  • Hypertonic glucose solutions are used in intravenous fluids to deliver nutrients to patients who cannot eat or drink.

hypertonic relate terms

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    Etymology The word tonic comes from the Latin word tonicus which means pertaining

  • hyper

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    Etymology The word solemn comes from the Latin word solemnis which originally meant

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    Etymology The word Friday originates from the Old English word Frīgedæg which mean

  • loyalty

    Etymology Old French leauté Latin legalitas legality faithfulness Latin lex

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    Etymology Old French breche from Late Latin brecha from Celtic of unknown origin M

  • specious

    Etymology The word specious has Latin roots deriving from the following speciōsus

  • carpenter

    Etymology The word carpenter comes from the Old French word carpentier which in turn