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hypotonic

 
('pō-tŏn'ĭk) pronunciation
adj.
  1. Pathology. Having less than normal tone or tension, as of muscles or arteries.
  2. Chemistry. Having the lower osmotic pressure of two fluids.
hypotonicity hy'po·to·nic'i·ty (-tə-nĭs'ĭ-tē) n.

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A solution more dilute than the body fluids, see isotonic.

1. Applied to an external fluid which causes cells to increase in volume.

2. Applied to sports drinks that have a salt concentration less than that of the body fluids.

3. Applied to conditions below normal tension or tone.

  1. (of a solution) having a lower osmotic pressure than that of some given solution, particularly the fluid in or surrounding a given type of cell or a body fluid.
  2. (of a muscle) showing or characterized by diminished tone or tension. Compare hypertonic.
hypotonicity n.

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Next:hypovolemia, hypox, hypoxanthine

1. having an abnormally reduced tonicity or tension.
2. having an osmotic pressure lower than that of the solution with which it is compared.

  • h. dehydration — occurs when there is secretory loss of sodium from the intestinal epithelium, e.g. salmonellosis, in osmolar excess of the concurrent fluid loss. See also dehydration.
(hī'pō-ton'ik)
adj

Exhibiting less tension or firmness.

 
 
Related topics:
fragility test (pathology)
osmotic fragility (physiology)
hypertonic solution

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American Heritage Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.  Read more
Oxford Food & Nutrition Dictionary. A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition. Copyright © 1995, 2003, 2005 by A. E. Bender and D. A. Bender. All rights reserved.  Read more
Oxford Dictionary of Sports Science & Medicine. The Oxford Dictionary of Sports Science & Medicine. Copyright © Michael Kent 1998, 2006, 2007. All rights reserved.  Read more
 Oxford Dictionary of Biochemistry. Oxford University Press. Oxford Dictionary of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology © 1997, 2000, 2006 All rights reserved.  Read more
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