isotonic
isotonic Lexical Profile
isotonic Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Having the same osmotic pressure as another solution, especially that of human blood or cellular fluid, allowing water to pass across a cell membrane without changing the cell's volume.
"The nurse administered an isotonic saline solution to rehydrate the patient safely."
Relating to or denoting muscular contraction in which the muscle changes length while maintaining constant tension.
"Squats, push-ups, and bicep curls are classic examples of isotonic exercises."
Word Nuance & Usage
In exercise physiology, do not confuse 'isotonic' (where muscle length changes under constant tension, such as lifting weights) with 'isometric' (where muscle tension increases without a change in length, such as holding a plank).
• Rhymes for isotonic
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in the late 19th century from the Greek elements 'isos' (meaning 'equal') and 'tonos' (meaning 'tension' or 'stretching'), originally used in physiology and chemistry to compare osmotic pressures.