Before proceeding to determine the meaning of the term turgidity, it is necessary to clarify its etymological origin. In this sense, we can say that it emanates from Latin, since it is the result of the sum of several components of that language:
• The verb “turgere”, which can be translated as “swell”.
• The particle “-nt-“, which indicates “agent”.
• The suffix “-ia”, which is synonymous with “quality”.
Turgor is a term that refers to the characteristic of turgor. This adjective, on the other hand, refers to something voluminous or firm. In medicine, a liquid that causes swelling in a certain region of the body is classified as turgid.
The idea of turgor, therefore, can be used to describe the pressure generated by some liquids on the cell walls and the elasticity that the skin presents due to the pressure of the tissues. It is important to establish that there is what is known as breast turgor. It consists in that the breasts have very marked veins, they seem heavy and both the areolas and the nipples are larger than normal, much more sensitive to any friction and even a little depigmented. This situation can occur at different times in a woman’s life. However, when it is more common for her to suffer from it is during pregnancy. And this is due, among other reasons, to the fact that your body is subject to a remarkable series of hormonal changes. At a visual level we can say that these are the symptoms that make it clear that a future mother suffers from breast swelling. Likewise, it must be said that, on many occasions, this becomes the main “clue” that indicates to the woman that she is pregnant. However, this, to a lesser extent, is also experienced by any woman when she is menstruating or on the days that make up what is known as premenstrual syndrome. It is known as skin turgor due to the ability of this organ to expand and return to its original state, which reflects its elasticity. By analyzing turgor, a doctor can determine if a person is dehydrated. A rapid turgor test involves stretching the skin on your hand or abdomen for a few seconds to lift it. When released, the skin should almost immediately return to its normal state, demonstrating its healthy robustness. When the return is slow, it reflects a contraction in turgor and therefore a sign of a health problem. The two most common causes of fluid loss are vomiting and diarrhoea, but this phenomenon also occurs in the presence of diabetes, heat stroke, excessive weight loss or as a result of a decrease in daily fluid intake. In young children, especially infants, the change is more drastic and fever can speed it up. Weak skin turgor, which occurs as a result of recent exposure situations, is also known as pasty skin or decreased skin turgor.
Scleroderma and Ehler’s Danlos syndrome, among other connective tissue disorders that affect skin elasticity, are other factors that can contribute to poor skin turgor and are not related to body fluids. It is worth mentioning that when the decrease in turgor becomes evident, the level of dehydration is usually moderate or severe (water deficiency of 5% and 10% of body weight, respectively), so it is important to take the necessary precautions to avoid reach this state. As a first measure, it is very important to consume a good amount of water a day; It may seem strange to many, but some people are not aware that they are very small, and they must force themselves to drink water as directed by their doctor. In any case, given the mere need for liquid, you should not think about the times. If home controls are effective in ensuring that it is within the range of normal turgor values, there are signs that indicate the urgent need to see a doctor, such as: the skin remains upright after stretching, which is too late to involve its normal resting state; that it is not possible to increase fluid intake due to problems such as vomiting; that the reduction in turgor occurs together with diarrhoea, fever or vomiting. Of the clinical examinations that are carried out in these cases are the urinalysis and the complete blood count (CSC). In plants, there is also a level of turgidity that is considered normal. Meanwhile, the cells manage to dilate to a certain extent due to the pressure they experience inside, forcing the membranes to show their elastic capacity. If the cells lose too much fluid, they shrink, which is what happens when the plant moves. It may be decided that, in order to grow, plants require a turgor pressure to expand their cells.
