Colloids
| Definition: |
Two-phase systems in which one is uniformly dispersed in another as particles small enough so they cannot be filtered or will not settle out. The dispersing or continuous phase or medium envelops the particles of the discontinuous phase. All three states of matter can form colloids among each other. |
| Notes: |
IM for general only; NIM with specific drug IM, no qualif |
| Also Called: |
Hydrocolloids |
Colloids Categories.
 |
Aerosols - Colloids with a gaseous dispersing phase and either liquid (fog) or solid (smoke) dispersed phase; used in fumigation or in inhalation therapy; may contain propellent agents. |
|
Emulsions - Colloids of two immiscible liquids where either phase may be either fatty or aqueous; lipid-in-water emulsions are usually liquid, like milk or lotion and water-in-lipid emulsions tend to be creams. |
|
Gels - Colloids with a solid continuous phase and liquid as the dispersed phase; gels may be unstable when, due to temperature or other cause, the solid phase liquifies; the resulting colloid is called a sol. |
|
Suspensions - Colloids with liquid continuous phase and solid dispersed phase; the term is used loosely also for solid-in-gas (AEROSOL) and other colloidal systems; water-insoluble drugs may be given as suspensions. |
Colloids Definitions and Terms
MedicalGlossary.org is designed as a free, browsable resource for all. The medical terms and definitions are not intended to replace medical informaion provided by licensed healthcare professionals. Please see a doctor if you need medical assistance. Don't see the medical term you were researching? Send us an e-mail from our "about us" page. We will do our best to research and classify new medical terms in a timely manner. Our current list of medical terms is over 26,000. Data sources include the U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2004 Medical Subject Headings.
|
