TOPIC 1.CLASSIFICATION KINGDOM FUNGI

Effects of osmosis in living organisms

Osmosis and animal cells

When an animal cell is put in a hypotonic solution, it absorbs water. If it remains in the solution for a long time, it absorbs excess amounts of water. A cell that does not have a mechanism for removing the excess water bursts due to the excessive internal pressure.

When an animal cell is placed in a hypertonic solution, it loses water. If it remains in the solution for a long time, it loses a lot of water, shrinks and shrivels.

These effects of osmosis on animal cells can be observed in red blood cells. Under normal conditions, the osmotic pressure of red blood cells is equal to that of the blood plasma, i.e. they are isotonic. Thus, there is equal movement of water in and out of the cells. This helps to maintain the disc shape of these cells.

When red blood cells are put in a hypotonic solution, they absorb water, causing the cell volume to increase. Excessive amounts of water cause haemolysis (bursting).

When red blood cells are put in a hypertonic solution, they lose water, leading to shriveling of the cell. This is referred tocrenation

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