viscosity

(noun)

a quantity expressing the magnitude of internal friction in a fluid, as measured by the force per unit area resisting uniform flow

Related Terms

Examples of viscosity in the following topics:

  • Plasma and Serum

    • Other components in the serum include proteins, which assist with maintaining pH and osmotic balance while giving viscosity to the blood; antibodies, or specialized proteins that are important for defense against viruses and bacteria; lipids, including cholesterol, which are transported in the serum; and various other substances including nutrients, hormones, metabolic waste, and external substances, such as drugs, viruses, and bacteria.

  • Organs with Secondary Endocrine Functions

    • Because red blood cells increase the viscosity of blood, artificially high levels of EPO can cause severe health risks.

  • Limits on Animal Size and Shape

    • Another difference in the adaptations of aquatic and land-dwelling organisms is that aquatic organisms are constrained in shape by the forces of drag in the water since water has higher viscosity than air.