Reserve
Reserve (ri-zurv)
Reserve (pronounced ri-zurv) is a term used in various fields of medicine. The etymology of the word "reserve" comes from the Old French reserver, meaning to "keep back, save up; set aside, preserve". In the medical context, it refers to the ability of an organism or a system to withstand changes or stressors while maintaining function.
Medical Reserve
In medicine, the term Reserve is often used to describe the capacity of an individual or a system to maintain homeostasis in the face of stressors. This can refer to the body's ability to compensate for damage or disease, or to the capacity of a healthcare system to handle increased demand.
For example, Cardiac Reserve refers to the difference between the rate at which the heart pumps blood and its maximum capacity for pumping blood at any given time. A person with a high cardiac reserve is able to tolerate more physical activity than a person with a low cardiac reserve.
Similarly, Pulmonary Reserve refers to the extra capacity that the lungs have for increasing ventilation in response to increased demand, such as during exercise or at high altitude.
Related Terms
- Resilience: This is the ability of an organism to adapt to stressors, maintain function, and recover quickly. It is closely related to the concept of reserve.
- Redundancy: This refers to the existence of multiple systems or pathways that can perform the same function. Redundancy is one of the ways in which biological systems increase their reserve.
- Homeostasis: This is the state of steady internal conditions maintained by living things. The ability to maintain homeostasis is a key aspect of reserve.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Reserve
- Wikipedia's article - Reserve
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