Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Reverse dialysis is a process where certain solutes and fluids move from an area of lower concentration to an area of higher concentration, typically through a semi-permeable membrane, using external pressure.
5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test
Reverse dialysis is the opposite of natural osmosis, which moves solutes from high to low concentration.
External pressure is required to facilitate the movement in reverse dialysis.
It is commonly used in medical treatments like hemodialysis to remove waste products from the blood.
The efficiency of reverse dialysis depends on factors like membrane permeability and applied pressure.
Reverse dialysis can be explained by principles of fluid dynamics and molecular transport phenomena.
\text{The passive spread of particles from regions of higher concentration to regions of lower concentration.}
\text{Hemodialysis}: \text{A medical procedure that uses diffusion and filtration across a semi-permeable membrane to remove waste products from blood.}