isotonic

Physiology

(adjective)

When comparing solutions, an isotonic solution has the same osmolarity (ion concentration) as the solution it is being compared to. 

Related Terms

  • concentric
  • eccentric
  • Isometric
  • colloid
  • crystalloid
  • hypovolemic shock
  • plasma
  • electrolyte
  • isometric

(adjective)

A muscular contraction in which the length of the muscle changes.

Related Terms

  • concentric
  • eccentric
  • Isometric
  • colloid
  • crystalloid
  • hypovolemic shock
  • plasma
  • electrolyte
  • isometric
Biology

(adjective)

having the same osmotic pressure

Related Terms

  • hypertonic
  • osmolarity
  • hypotonic

Examples of isotonic in the following topics:

  • Types of Muscle Contractions: Isotonic and Isometric

    • Isotonic contractions maintain constant tension in the muscle as the muscle changes length.
    • Isotonic muscle contractions can be either concentric or eccentric.
    • In contrast to isotonic contractions, isometric contractions generate force without changing the length of the muscle, common in the muscles of the hand and forearm responsible for grip.
    • An isotonic concentric contraction results in the muscle shortening, an isotonic eccentric contraction results in the muscle lengthening.
  • Sodium, Electrolytes, and Fluid Balance

    • There are three types of dehydration: hypotonic or hyponatremic (primarily a loss of electrolytes, sodium in particular), hypertonic or hypernatremic (primarily a loss of water), and isotonic or isonatremic (equal loss of water and electrolytes).
    • In humans, the most common type of dehydration by far is isotonic (isonatraemic) dehydration which effectively equates with hypovolemia; but the distinction of isotonic from hypotonic or hypertonic dehydration may be important when treating people with dehydration.
    • Solutions used for intravenous rehydration must be isotonic or hypotonic.
  • Water Balance Disorders

    • There are three types of dehydration that differ based on the type of change in ion concentrations: hypotonic (primarily a loss of electrolytes, sodium in particular), hypertonic (primarily a loss of water), and isotonic (equal loss of water and electrolytes).
    • Isotonic dehydration will not change plasma osmolarity, but it will reduce overall plasma volume.
    • Isotonic dehydration is the most common type of dehydration.
    • Solutions used for intravenous rehydration must be isotonic or hypotonic.
  • Tonicity

    • Three terms—hypotonic, isotonic, and hypertonic—are used to relate the osmolarity of a cell to the osmolarity of the extracellular fluid that contains the cells .
    • In an isotonic solution, the extracellular fluid has the same osmolarity as the cell.
    • Blood cells and plant cells in hypertonic, isotonic, and hypotonic solutions take on characteristic appearances.
    • Cells in an isotonic solution retain their shape.
    • Osmotic pressure changes the shape of red blood cells in hypertonic, isotonic, and hypotonic solutions.
  • Osmoregulators and Osmoconformers

    • Most marine invertebrates, on the other hand, may be isotonic with sea water (osmoconformers).
    • The shark's blood electrolyte composition is not similar to that of seawater, but maintains isotonicity with seawater by storing urea at high concentrations.
  • Introduction to Osmoregulation

    • Isotonic cells have an equal concentration of solutes inside and outside the cell; this equalizes the osmotic pressure on either side of the semi-permeable membrane.
    • Response of red blood cells in hypertonic, hypotonic, and isotonic solutions
    • The blood maintains an isotonic environment so that cells neither shrink nor swell.
  • Osmoregulation

    • There are three types of tonicity: hypotonic, hypertonic, and isotonic.
    • In an isotonic condition, the relative concentrations of solute and solvent are equal on both sides of the membrane.
    • Many marine invertebrates have internal salt levels matched to their environments, making them isotonic with the water in which they live.
  • Osmotic Pressure

    • If the medium is isotonic — a solution with exactly the same water concentration as the cell — there will be no net movement of water across the cell membrane .
  • Medical Solutions: Colligative Properties

    • There are medical solutions with a range of concentrations to ensure the cell maintains an isotonic environment.
  • Osmotic Pressure

    • In an isotonic solution, water flows into the cell at the same rate it flows out.
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