Crystalloidal

/ˌkrɪstəˈlɔɪdəl/ adjective

Definition

Of, relating to, or having the nature of a crystalloid; resembling or characteristic of crystalloid substances in their ability to dissolve and diffuse through semipermeable membranes.

Etymology

From crystalloid plus the adjectival suffix -al. This adjective form is used in biochemistry and medicine to describe properties and behaviors of crystalloid solutions as distinct from colloidal ones.

Kelly Says

In hospital emergency rooms, doctors choose between crystalloidal fluids (like saline) and colloidal ones when treating severe blood loss—a choice that can mean life or death, all hinging on a chemical word that most people have never heard.

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