What does impedance measure in a medical context?

In a medical context, impedance primarily measures the opposition that a circuit presents to the flow of an alternating current. It encompasses both resistance and reactance, allowing for a comprehensive understanding of how electrical signals behave in biological tissues.

Resistance, as a crucial component of impedance, refers specifically to the difficulty that an electrical current encounters when passing through a conductor or material. In medical applications, especially in techniques like bioimpedance analysis or electrocardiography, evaluating resistance helps in understanding various physiological conditions and monitoring health status.

By focusing on resistance, we see how it directly relates to the overall impedance. Therefore, in measuring the characteristics of tissues, it provides critical information, such as fluid levels or abnormalities, by reflecting how various tissues conduct electricity. This measurement is essential for accurate diagnostics in many medical fields.