saline
Meaning of saline: Saline is a solution of salt dissolved in water, formulated to closely match the body's own fluid concentration for medical use.
Definition of saline
Saline is a solution consisting of salt, usually sodium chloride, dissolved in water. In medical use, saline is most often prepared as a sterile solution with a salt concentration close to that of the body's own fluids, which allows it to be given intravenously, used to rinse tissue, or applied to mucous membranes without causing significant irritation or fluid shifts.
Saline is used for a wide range of purposes, including intravenous fluid replacement, flushing intravenous lines and wounds, diluting medications for administration, and rinsing the nasal passages or eyes. Different concentrations of saline exist for different purposes, with a solution matching the body's typical salt concentration described as normal or isotonic saline.
Because saline is widely available and generally well tolerated, it is one of the most commonly used fluids in clinical care, though the appropriate type, concentration, and amount still depend on the specific situation.
Used in a sentence
The wound was irrigated with sterile saline before the dressing was applied.
Good to know
Not all saline solutions are equivalent; normal saline matches the body's typical salt concentration, while more concentrated or more dilute solutions are used for different, more specific purposes.
Word origin
Where “saline” comes from
From Latin sal, meaning "salt."