Medical Dictionary
Main Entry:
di·al·y·sis Pronunciation:
dI-'al-&-s&s Function:
noun Inflected Form:
plural di·al·y·ses /-"sEz/ 1 : the separation of substances in solution by means of their unequal diffusion through semipermeable membranes;
especially : such a separation of colloids from soluble substances
2 : either of two medical procedures to remove wastes or toxins from the blood and adjust fluidand electrolyte imbalances by utilizing rates at which substances diffuse through a semipermeable membrane:
a : the process of removing blood from an artery (as of a kidney patient),purifying it by dialysis, adding vital substances, and returning it to a vein called also
hemodialysis b : a procedure performed in the peritoneal cavity in which the peritoneumacts as the semipermeable membrane called also
peritoneal dialysis —
di·a·lyt·ic /"dI-&-'lit-ik/ adjective