Written by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 examโขWritten by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
Definition
Microfluids refer to fluids that flow through tiny channels or devices with dimensions on the micrometer scale. They exhibit unique behaviors due to their small size and surface effects.
Related terms
Capillary action: Capillary action is the ability of liquids to flow against gravity in narrow tubes or porous materials due to adhesive forces between liquid molecules and solid surfaces.
Lab-on-a-chip: Lab-on-a-chip refers to miniaturized devices that integrate multiple laboratory functions onto a single chip for applications such as medical diagnostics or chemical analysis using microfluidics.