fragility

fragility /fra·gil·i·ty/ (frah-jil´it-e) susceptibility, or lack of resistance, to influences capable of causing disruption of continuity or integrity.

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fragility of blood  erythrocyte f.

capillary fragility  abnormal susceptibility of capillary walls to rupture.

erythrocyte fragility  susceptibility of erythrocytes to hemolysis under certain conditions.

mechanical fragility  susceptibility of certain erythrocytes to hemolysis under mechanical stress.

osmotic fragility  susceptibility of certain erythrocytes to hemolysis in increasingly hypotonic saline solutions.

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fra·gil·i·ty (fr-jl-t)

n.

The quality or state of being easily broken or destroyed.

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fragility

susceptibility, or lack of resistance, to influences capable of causing disruption of continuity or integrity.

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fragility of blood

see erythrocyte fragility (below).

capillary fragility

abnormal susceptibility of capillary walls to rupture.

erythrocyte fragility

susceptibility of erythrocytes to hemolysis when subjected to mechanical trauma (mechanical fragility) or when exposed to increasingly hypotonic saline solutions (osmotic fragility). A test of erythrocyte osmotic fragility is used in diagnosing hemolytic anemia. Called also fragility of blood.