IV fluids can be classified as hypo, hyper, or isotonic… but to what? The blood cells? Or other body cells? How do IV fluids even work in the body, and under what conditions would someone need a specific IV solution?

Question

IV fluids can be classified as hypo, hyper, or isotonic… but to what? The blood cells? Or other body cells? How do IV fluids even work in the body, and under what conditions would someone need a specific IV solution?

In: Biology

Answer 1

Hypo- means below, or less than. A hypotonic solution has a lower concentration of dissolved substances (such as salt) than the inside of the cells it is in contact with.

Hyper- means above or more than. A hypertonic solution has a higher concentration of dissolved substances (such as salt) than the insides of the cells it is in contact with.

Iso- means equal or the same as. So, an isotonic solution has the same concentration of solutes (the same salinity, for example) as the insides of the cells it contacts.

Water, through osmosis, will travel from the area of greater concentration of water to the area of lesser concentration of water. Therefore, blood cells in a hypertonic solution will shrivel up, blood cells in a hypotonic solution will explode, and blood cells in an isotonic solution will be fine.