osmoregulation
/ˌɒzməʊˌrɛɡjʊˈleɪʃən/
noun
Origin
Greek
ὠσμός + regulation — The act of regulating the pressure of osmosis
Overview
Meaning Now
- The physiological process by which an organism maintains the osmotic pressure of its fluids or cells within an acceptable range, specifically by controlling the concentration of water and salts.
Literal older meaning
regulation of push or impulse
Language path
Greek → International Scientific Vocabulary → English
Earliest form
osmoregulation
Earliest period
Early 20th century
Journey
The term emerged as biology became more quantitative in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It reflects the realization that aquatic organisms must actively expend energy to manage their internal salt and water balance against environmental gradients.
Evolution
- Ancient Greek
ὠσμός
“a push, impulse”
From ὠθέω (ōthéō), to push.
- 1867
osmosis
“diffusion through a membrane”
Coined from Greek ὠσμός.
- Early 20th Century
osmoregulation
“regulation of osmotic pressure”
Compound of 'osmo-' and 'regulation'.
Connections
Word parts
osmo-
root
related to osmosis or pushing
-regulation
root
the act of controlling or adjusting
Related across languages
French
osmorégulation
osmoregulation
German
osmoregulation
Related words
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External references use DefinedTerm semantics.