What are the Clinical Implications of Osmotic Imbalance?
Understanding osmotic imbalance is critical for diagnosing and treating various medical conditions. For instance, in dehydration, cells may shrink due to hypertonic extracellular fluid, whereas in water intoxication, cells may swell due to hypotonic extracellular fluid. Correctly diagnosing the type of osmotic imbalance can guide appropriate therapeutic interventions.
