hypertonic
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Introduction
A solution with more osmotic pressure or tonicity than plasma or interstitial fluid. This results in a net flow of water across semipermeable membranes. Thus bathing cells in culture within a hypertonic solution will cause water to diffuse out of the cells across the cell membrane, causing the cells to shrivel or shrink.
Additional terms
References
- ↑ Dorland's Medical Dictionary, 23rd ed., WB Saunders, Philadelphia, 1990