What is the difference between Hypertonic and Hypotonic?

Let us start with breaking down the subword that make up this words; tonic simply refers to fluid, hypo means less or lesser, while hyper means more or greater. So when referring to a hypertonic solution, the solute happens to be more than the solvent. Conversely, when referring to the hypotonic solution, the solute happens to be lesser than the solvent.

The application of these processes can be carried out in the body, hypotonic and hypertonic solutions are employed in the treatment of cases like dehydration, hypervolemia, hypovolemia, and other electrolyte and fluid imbalances.

Hypertonic solutions make the cell to shrink as it causes water to be pulled out of the cell; while hypotonic solutions make the cell to swell as it causes water to be shifted into the cell. Hypertonic solutions is employed in cases of hemorrhage, while hypotonic solutions can be employed for cases of hypernatremia and dehydration.

Hypertonic is known to be a type of solution that will come with a high resolution of solutes. The resolution will usually be higher outside the cell instead of inside the cell. Hypotonic, on the other hand, is known to be the exact opposite of hypertonic.

This means that the concentration is far lesser outside the cell as compared to the concentration of solutes that can be found inside of the cell. Take note that another difference that you can look for when you want to distinguish the two is that the hypotonic solution can cause the cells to swell up. It will be the opposite of hypertonic solutions that can cause the cells to shrink.