Osmosis Tendency of fluids (e.g., water) to move from the less concentrated to the more concentrated side of a semipermeable membrane.
Synonyms : Osmoses
Osmotic Fragility RED BLOOD CELL sensitivity to change in OSMOTIC PRESSURE. When exposed to a hypotonic concentration of sodium in a solution, red cells take in more water, swell until the capacity of the cell membrane is exceeded, and burst.
Synonyms : Fragility, Osmotic, Fragility, Saline
Osmotic Pressure The pressure required to stop osmosis through a semipermeable membrane between a solution and pure solvent. It is proportional to the osmolality of the solution. Osmotic shock is a sudden change in the osmotic pressure to which a cell is subjected, usually in order to cause it to lyse and lose its contents. (Dorland, 28th ed; Stedman, 26th ed)