osmolality
(oz″mo-lalīĭ-te)
the concentration of a solution in terms of osmoles of solutes per kilogram of solvent.
serum osmolality
a measure of the number of dissolved particles per unit of water in serum. In a solution, the fewer the particles of solute
in proportion to the number of units of water (solvent), the less concentrated the solution. A low serum osmolality means
a higher than usual amount of water in relation to the amount of particles dissolved in it, and accompanies overhydration,
or edema. An increased serum osmolality indicates a fluid volume deficit.
urine osmolality
a measure of the number of dissolved particles per unit of water in the urine. A more accurate measure of urine concentration
than specific gravity, urine osmolality is useful in diagnosing renal disorders of urinary concentration and dilution and
in assessing status of hydration. The normal value is 500 to 800 mOsm/L.
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