osmo-, osmia-, osmi-, -osmia, -osmatic (push) +
(Greek: impulse, thrust, push, impel)
Don't confuse this osmo- word-unit with another osmo- unit meaning "smell, odor".
Control of the volume and composition of body fluids: Osmoregulation relates to the adjustment of osmotic pressure particularly in a body of a living being.
1. A cell that can utilize energy to control the concentration of salts in the intracellular fluid: An osmoregulator can maintain the osmotic pressure independent of the environment.
2. An organism that maintains the osmotic concentration of its body fluid: Fish and mammals, for example, are osmoregulators that have specific organs that keep the intake and elimination of salt active in order to sustain consistent osmolarity.
2. An organism that maintains the osmotic concentration of its body fluid: Fish and mammals, for example, are osmoregulators that have specific organs that keep the intake and elimination of salt active in order to sustain consistent osmolarity.
osmose
To cause something to diffuse by osmosis or to undergo osmosis.
osmoses (pl)
1. Diffusion of fluid through a semipermeable membrane from a solution with a low solute concentration to a solution with a higher solute concentration until there is an equal concentration of fluid on.
2. A gradual, often unconscious process of assimilation or absorption.
3. The diffusion of fluids through membranes or porous partitions.
2. A gradual, often unconscious process of assimilation or absorption.
3. The diffusion of fluids through membranes or porous partitions.
osmosing
Diffusing or causing diffusion by osmosis.
osmosis (s)
1. Diffusion of a solvent through a differentially permeable membrane from a region of low solute concentration to one of high solute concentration.
2. The diffusion of pure solvent across a membrane in response to a concentration gradient, usually from a solution of lesser to one of greater solute concentration.
3. The tendency of a fluid, usually water, to pass through a semipermeable membrane into a solution where the solvent concentration is higher, thus equalizing the concentrations of materials on either side of the membrane.
2. The diffusion of pure solvent across a membrane in response to a concentration gradient, usually from a solution of lesser to one of greater solute concentration.
3. The tendency of a fluid, usually water, to pass through a semipermeable membrane into a solution where the solvent concentration is higher, thus equalizing the concentrations of materials on either side of the membrane.
osmosology
The science of osmosis.
osmostat
The regulatory centers that control the osmolality of the extracellular fluid.
osmotactic
A reference to a motile organism to a change or gradient of osmotic pressure.
osmotaxis
1. The movement of cells as affected by the density of the liquid containing them.
2. A directed response of a motile organism to osmotic pressure gradients.
2. A directed response of a motile organism to osmotic pressure gradients.
osmotherapy
1. Treatment by the intravenous injection of hypertonic solutions to produce dehydration.
2. Treatment of cerebral edema and increased intracranial pressure with dehydration by means of intravenous injections of osmotically active substances, or by oral administration of glycerine, glycine, etc.
2. Treatment of cerebral edema and increased intracranial pressure with dehydration by means of intravenous injections of osmotically active substances, or by oral administration of glycerine, glycine, etc.
osmotic
A reference to osmosis, particularly to osmotic pressure.
osmotic coefficient
The ratio of observed osmotic pressure to that calculated for a solution of ideal behavior.
osmotic water
Water held in close contact by clay particles which is less available to soil organisms than capillary water.
osmotically
1. By means of osmosis.
2. By osmotic action.
3. By the process of osmosis.
2. By osmotic action.
3. By the process of osmosis.
