hemoconcentration: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Technical/Medical
Quick answer
What does “hemoconcentration” mean?
An increase in the concentration of red blood cells and other formed elements in the blood, typically due to a loss of plasma volume.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An increase in the concentration of red blood cells and other formed elements in the blood, typically due to a loss of plasma volume.
A physiological state or process where the proportion of cellular components to plasma in the blood rises, often as a result of dehydration, burns, or shock. In a broader clinical context, it can indicate hemorheological changes affecting blood flow.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No difference in meaning. The spelling follows national conventions: 'haemoconcentration' is the standard British spelling, while 'hemoconcentration' is standard American.
Connotations
Purely clinical in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in professional medical contexts in both regions. The American spelling is more common globally in indexed scientific literature.
Grammar
How to Use “hemoconcentration” in a Sentence
Hemoconcentration occurs (in patients) (due to X)X causes/induces hemoconcentration (in Y)The patient developed/presented with hemoconcentration.Hemoconcentration was observed/noted (following X).Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Exclusively used in medical, physiological, and biomedical research papers and textbooks.
Everyday
Never used in everyday conversation.
Technical
Core term in clinical pathology, hematology, emergency medicine, and sports physiology to describe a complication or a physiological response.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “hemoconcentration”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “hemoconcentration”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hemoconcentration”
- Misspelling: 'hemo-concentration' (unnecessary hyphen).
- Confusing it with 'hemoglobin concentration', which is different.
- Using it as a verb, e.g., 'The blood hemoconcentrated' (non-standard; prefer 'underwent hemoconcentration').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. Polycythemia refers specifically to an increase in the total red cell mass. Hemoconcentration is an increase in concentration due to plasma loss, so the red cell mass may be normal, but it's packed into a smaller volume of plasma.
Yes, if the hemoconcentration is caused by simple dehydration, oral or intravenous fluid administration is the primary treatment to restore normal plasma volume and correct the concentration.
In a clinical setting, it is usually an abnormal finding indicating dehydration, shock, or burns. However, mild, transient hemoconcentration can occur during heavy exercise as a normal physiological response.
It is most directly measured by an increase in hematocrit (the percentage of blood volume made up of red cells) or an increase in hemoglobin concentration in a standard blood count, after ruling out an actual increase in red cell production.
An increase in the concentration of red blood cells and other formed elements in the blood, typically due to a loss of plasma volume.
Hemoconcentration is usually technical/medical in register.
Hemoconcentration: in British English it is pronounced /ˌhiːməʊˌkɒnsənˈtreɪʃ(ə)n/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌhimoʊˌkɑːnsənˈtreɪʃən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a HEMO globe (blood globe) where water (plasma) evaporates, CONCENTRATING the red cells inside.
Conceptual Metaphor
BLOOD IS A SOLUTION; hemoconcentration is the SOLUTION BECOMING MORE POTENT/THICKER.
Practice
Quiz
What is the PRIMARY cause of hemoconcentration in a typical clinical scenario?