Hypotonic vs. Hypertonic

Hypotonicadjective

(of a solution) Having a lower osmotic pressure than another.

Hypotonicadjective

(medicine) Showing less than normal tension in the muscles or muscle tissue.

Hypotonicadjective

(of living tissue) lacking normal tone or tension

Hypotonicadjective

(used of solutions) having the same or equal osmotic pressure

Hypertonicadjective

(of a solution) having a greater osmotic pressure than another

Hypertonicadjective

(anatomy) having a very high muscular tension; spastic

Hypertonicnoun

Having a higher osmotic pressure than a comparison solution; - of an aqueous solution. Increasing the concentration of dissolved solids increases the osmotic pressure, and thus the tonicity of a solution. Opposite of hypotonic and contrasting with isotonic.

Hypertonicnoun

Having an osmotic pressure greater than that of blood plasma, which is approximately that of a 0.2 normal solution of sodium chloride. Cells taken from a medium of normal physiological osmolality and placed in a hypertonic medium will shrink.

Hypertonicnoun

in a state of abnormally high tension; - of muscle.

Hypertonicadjective

(of living tissue) in a state of abnormally high tension;

Hypertonicadjective

(used of solutions) having the same or equal osmotic pressure

Hypertonicadjective

having a higher osmotic pressure than a particular fluid, typically a body fluid or intracellular fluid.

Hypertonicadjective

of or in a state of abnormally high muscle tone.