Hinghofer-Szalkay H
Volume and density changes of biological fluids with temperature
J Appl Physiol. 1985; 59: 1686-9
Purpose: High-precision (10-5 g/ml) mass density measurements on human blood, plasma, plasma ultrafiltrate (using PM-10 membranes), and erythrocyte concentrate samples were performed with the mechanical oscillator technique.
Measurement temperatures varied between 4 and 48 deg C and were accurate to ±1x10-2 K. The coefficient of thermal expansion (beta), defined as relative volume change with temperature, was calculated.
Results: It was shown that
Conclusion: The mechanical oscillator technique provides data with an accuracy sufficient to perform precise (10-5 K) calculations of beta of small volumes of biological fluids. The coefficient of thermal expansion increases with density at temperatures below 40 deg C but is independent of density above 40 deg C.
Density of a red cell (RC) and an ultrafiltrate (UF) sample at low (A) and high (B) temperatures. Note different density scales.
Coefficient of thermal expansion as function of sample density at 5 (A), 25 (B), and 45 degrees Celsius (C). No significant correlation existed at 45 deg C.
A: Coefficient of thermal expansion as function of temperature. B: Increase of beta with density, determined as in above figure, between 5 and 47 deg C. C: Volume expansion of erythrocytes (RC) and ultrafiltrate (UF) from 4 to 48 deg C; curve was calculated from data in (A).