hypertonisen

Hypertonisen is a term found in several European languages used as the adjectival form of hypertonic or to describe hypertonia in physiology and neurology. In English, the corresponding terms are typically hypertonic (relating to solutions with higher osmolality) and hypertonia (the condition of increased muscle tone). Hypertonisen thus denotes a state of higher tonicity, osmolality, or muscle tone relative to a reference.

In physiology and medicine, a hypertonic solution has a higher solute concentration than the fluid inside cells. When such solutions are administered, water tends to move out of cells by osmosis. Hypertonic saline is a common example and can be used to treat conditions such as hyponatremia or to reduce intracranial pressure. Its use requires careful dosing because of risks to fluid and electrolyte balance.

In neurology, hypertonia refers to increased resting muscle tone and encompasses conditions such as spasticity, rigidity, and dystonia. These conditions often arise from injury or disease affecting the central nervous system, including stroke and cerebral palsy. Assessment of hypertonia may involve scales like the Modified Ashworth Scale. Management is typically multidisciplinary, including physical therapy, pharmacologic agents (such as baclofen, tizanidine, or benzodiazepines), focal treatments like botulinum toxin injections, and, in some cases, intrathecal baclofen pumps or surgical interventions.

Etymology and usage vary by language; in English, the standard terms are hypertonic and hypertonia. Hypertonisen therefore appears mainly in translations or cross-language discussions of osmolarity and muscle tone.