What is crenation in the context of red blood cells?

Crenation refers to the process where red blood cells shrink and develop a notched or scalloped appearance due to the loss of water when they are placed in a hypertonic solution. In this environment, the concentration of solutes outside the cell is higher than inside, causing water to move out of the cell. This results in the characteristic shriveling or deformation of the red blood cells.

Understanding crenation is important in various clinical contexts, especially in fluid management and understanding osmosis, as it can affect the functionality of red blood cells in transporting oxygen and carbon dioxide. The knowledge of this physiological response is crucial for patient care technicians to monitor and manage conditions that could affect a patient's hydration status and blood composition.