the concentration of a solution expressed in osmoles of solute particles per kilogram of solvent. Infants and some children may be unable to tolerate a formula with a high osmolality
(mOsM/kg) - the concentration of the solute in solution per unit of solvent.
The concentration of particles in a solution. A hydrophilic catheter must have a level of osmolality that is in the same range as urine in order to hold its water layer on inside the urethra.
particles of solute per kilogram of solvent.
The concentration of osmotically active particles (e.g. salts, sugars, ions) in a solution. The solution can be a body fluid such as plasma or urine. The higher the osmolality in body fluids, the greater the force exerted to draw water out of adjacent tissues or cells (e.g. shrinking of red blood cells which may subsequently lead to aggregation and clotting problems). The lower the osmolality, the greater the force exerted to push water into adjacent tissues or cells (e.g. swelling of red blood cells which may lead to intravascular hemolysis and subsequently to renal failure).
measure of salt and water content of the blood. Loss of free water into urine in ADH-dysregulated patients results in higher than expected osmolality. We use osmolal- ity as an indicator of dehydration. Measure simultaneously with ADH
Osmotic concentration. An indicator of fluid balance in the bodies tissues.
The property of a liquid to exercise an osmotic pressure because it contains an electrolyte in solution.
The total number of small particles (e.g. sodium, glucose) in a solution. Osmolality can influence the movement of water across a membrane (e.g. the intestinal wall) such that water is pulled from a lower concentration of particles (lower osmolality) to a higher concentration of particles (higher osmolality).
Osmolality is a property of a solution which measures the concentration of the solute per unit of solvent.
The concentration of particles dissolved in a fluid. The osmolality of serum can help diagnose several medical conditions such as dehydration, diabetes, and shock.