Name: how cells respond to tonicity
Uploaded: 2023-06-23T15:38:45.000Z
Duration: 1 min 16 s
Channel: JoVE

K12 Standards

Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills

High School

Biology

BIO.5

BIO.5.C

Tonicity in Animals

Tonicity is the ability of the extracellular solution to change the shape of the cell by making the cell gain or lose water.
Tonicity depends on the concentration of impermeable solutes outside a cell relative to the inside, which determines which way water moves.
There can be three possible conditions.
In isotonicity, the solute concentrations outside and inside the cell are equal, with no net water movement. So, the cell shape and volume remain unchanged.
In hypertonicity, the solute concentration outside the cell is higher than inside, causing water to move out. As a result, the cell shrivels causing cell crenation.
In hypotonicity, the solute concentration outside a cell is lower than inside. Thus, water moves in, causing the cell to swell and eventually rupture.
For treating fluid loss in dehydrated patients, an isotonic solution of 0.9 percent sodium chloride is administered intravenously to prevent the crenation or lysis of red blood cells.

tonicity in animals

Tonicity describes the amount of solute in a solution. The measure of the tonicity of a solution, or the total amount of solutes dissolved in a specific amount of solution, is called its osmolarity. Three terms&#8212;hypotonic, isotonic, and hypertonic&#8212;are used to relate the osmolarity of a cell to the osmolarity of the extracellular fluid that contains the cells. In a hypotonic solution, such as tap water, the extracellular fluid has a lower concentration of solutes than the fluid inside the cell, and water enters the cell. It also means that the extracellular fluid has a higher water concentration than the cell. In this situation, water will follow its concentration gradient and enter the cell. It may cause an animal cell to burst or lyse.
In a hypertonic solution, the extracellular fluid contains less water than the cell, such as seawater. Because the cell has a lower concentration of solutes, the water will leave the cell. In effect, the solute is drawing the water out of the cell. This may cause an animal cell to shrivel or crenate.
In an isotonic solution, the extracellular fluid has the same osmolarity as the cell. If the concentration of solutes in the cell matches that of the extracellular fluid, there will be no net movement of water into or out of the cell. Blood cells in hypertonic, isotonic, and hypotonic solutions take on characteristic appearances.
Some organisms, such as plants, fungi, bacteria, and protists, have cell walls that surround the plasma membrane and prevent cell lysis. The plasma membrane can only expand to the limit of the cell wall, so the cell will not lyse. In fact, the cytoplasm in plants is always slightly hypertonic compared to the cellular environment, and water will always enter a cell if water is available. This influx of water produces turgor pressure, which stiffens the plant&#39;s cell walls. In non-woody plants, turgor pressure supports the plant. If the plant cells become hypertonic, as in a drought, or if a plant is not watered adequately, water will leave the cell. Plants lose turgor pressure in this condition and wilt.
This text is adapted from <a href="https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/3-5-passive-transport">Openstax, Concepts of Biology, Section 3.5</a><a href="https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/3-5-passive-transport">:</a><a href="https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/3-5-passive-transport"> Passive Movement</a>.

Tonicity describes the amount of solute in a solution. The measure of the tonicity of a solution, or the total amount of solutes dissolved in a specific ...

Education

JoVE Core

Anatomy and Physiology

Unit 1

Cell Membrane Structure and Functions

KEY TERMS AND CONCEPTS

how cells respond to tonicity

Tonicity describes how solute levels in a solution affect cells. The amount of solute dissolved in a given amount of solution is called osmolarity. Cells and the fluid around them can then be compared as hypotonic, isotonic, or hypertonic.

In a hypotonic solution, the extracellular fluid has a lower solute concentration than the fluid inside the cell. Tap water is one example. The water concentration outside the cell is higher, so water moves into the cell along its concentration gradient. In an animal cell, this can cause the cell to burst, or lyse.

In a hypertonic solution, the extracellular fluid has less water than the cell. Seawater is one example. Because the cell has a lower solute concentration, water leaves the cell. This can make an animal cell shrivel, or crenate.

In an isotonic solution, the cell and the extracellular fluid have the same osmolarity. When solute concentrations match, there is no net movement of water into or out of the cell. Blood cells look different in hypertonic, isotonic, and hypotonic solutions.

Some organisms have cell walls around the plasma membrane. Plants, fungi, bacteria, and protists are examples. These walls help prevent cell lysis because the membrane can expand only to the limit of the wall. In plants, the cytoplasm is usually slightly hypertonic compared with the environment, so water enters when it is available. This water influx creates turgor pressure, which stiffens the cell wall and supports non-woody plants. If plant cells become hypertonic during drought or when a plant is not watered enough, water leaves the cells. The plant then loses turgor pressure and wilts.

How Cells Respond to Tonicity

what are membranes?

Membrane Layers in Cells and Tissues

Membranes are thin layers that help define cells and tissues. They act as boundaries and support important biological roles in the body. In cells, membranes help separate the inside of a cell from its surroundings. They also help control what moves in and out of the cell. In tissues, membranes can form covering layers that protect and support body structures. The video focuses on membranes as key parts of cell biology. It shows how these layers are organized and why they matter in living...

membrane proteins

Membrane Proteins and Cell Transport

Membrane proteins help cells move materials across the cell membrane. They are part of the membrane structure and are closely linked to how cells function. Some membrane proteins act as channels or carriers. These proteins help selected substances pass through the membrane when direct movement through the lipid layer is not possible or is limited. Other membrane proteins help cells respond to signals. They can bind to molecules outside the cell and pass information inward. Membrane proteins...

membrane lipids

Membrane Lipids and Cell Membranes

Membrane lipids are the main building blocks of cell membranes. They help form the thin barrier that surrounds cells and many cell parts. This barrier controls what can enter and leave the cell. The most common membrane lipids are phospholipids. These molecules have a water-loving head and water-fearing tails. In a membrane, they arrange themselves into a bilayer, with the heads facing water and the tails tucked away inside. Other membrane lipids also play important roles. Some lipids help...

membrane carbohydrates

Cell Surface Carbohydrates

Cell surface carbohydrates are sugar molecules found on the outside of cell membranes. They are attached to lipids and proteins, and they help give cells their outer identity. These carbohydrates are often part of glycolipids and glycoproteins. They sit at the membrane surface, where they can affect how cells interact with their surroundings. In many cells, they also play a role in cell recognition. Membrane carbohydrates are an important part of membrane structure and function. They help...

glycocalyx and its functions

Glycocalyx in Cell Recognition

The glycocalyx is a carbohydrate-rich layer on the outside of the cell membrane. It has a fuzzy appearance and is highly hydrophilic, which means it attracts water. That helps the cell interact with its watery environment and helps it obtain substances dissolved in that water. The glycocalyx is also important for how cells identify one another. It supports self and non-self recognition, and it helps in embryonic development. Cells also use it for cell-to-cell attachment, which helps tissues...

the significance of membrane transport

How Membrane Transport Supports Cells

Membrane transport helps cells move materials across the cell membrane. This process is essential for cell function and survival. Cell membranes are selective barriers. They control what enters and leaves the cell. Some materials move passively, while others require active transport. Passive transport does not use cellular energy. It includes movement down a concentration gradient, from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration. Active transport uses energy to move...

diffusion

Diffusion Rates and Concentration Gradients

Diffusion is a passive transport process that moves substances from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration. The movement continues until the concentration becomes equal across the space. In cells and in the air, this spread happens without added energy. A familiar example is perfume in a room. The perfume is most concentrated in the bottle and least concentrated at the edges of the room. As the vapor diffuses outward, more people can smell it over time. The same kind of...

facilitated transport

Transport Across Cell Membranes

Transport across cell membranes helps cells move needed substances in and out. Facilitated transport is one way this happens. It uses membrane proteins to move materials that cannot pass easily through the lipid bilayer on their own. This process still follows the concentration gradient, so it moves from higher concentration to lower concentration. Because of that, it does not require cellular energy. The membrane proteins provide a path that helps the substance cross the membrane more...

non-gated ion channels

Ion Flow Through Open Channels

Non-gated ion channels let ions move across the cell membrane without a trigger. They are open channels, so ions can pass through them directly. These channels are part of the membrane’s electrical properties. Their steady ion movement helps shape how the membrane behaves. Non-gated ion channels are different from gated channels. Gated channels open or close in response to a signal, while non-gated channels remain available for ion flow.

osmosis

Osmosis and Water Balance

Osmosis is the movement of free water molecules through a semipermeable membrane. In this process, water moves from a region with a high concentration of free water molecules to a region with a lower concentration of free water molecules. The membrane allows water to pass, but it limits the diffusion of solutes dissolved in the water. Osmosis is a special case of diffusion. Diffusion moves material across membranes and within cells when molecules can spread out evenly. In a beaker with a...

Tonicity describes how solute levels in a solution affect cells. The amount of solute dissolved in a given amount of solution is called osmolarity. Cells and the fluid around them can then be compared as hypotonic, isotonic, or hypertonic. In a hypotonic solution, the extracellular fluid has a lower solute concentration than the fluid inside the cell. Tap water is one example. The water concentration outside the cell is higher, so water moves into the cell along its concentration gradient. In...

primary active transport

ATP-Powered Membrane Transport

Primary active transport uses ATP to move substances across a membrane against their concentration gradient. This process helps cells move molecules and ions from a lower concentration to a higher concentration when energy is needed. ATP hydrolysis supplies the energy for this movement. In primary active transport, the transport protein uses the energy released from ATP to change shape and move the substance across the membrane. This mechanism is important in many cell processes that depend...

secondary active transport

Coupled Solute Movement Across Membranes

Secondary active transport moves solutes across a membrane by using the energy stored in an ion gradient. The transporter itself does not use ATP directly. Instead, it links the movement of one solute to the movement of another. This process depends on a gradient that was built earlier by primary active transport. As ions move down their gradient, they provide the energy that drives another substance in the opposite direction or along with them, depending on the carrier. This coupling lets...

introduction to membrane traffic

Membrane Traffic in Cells

Membrane traffic in cells moves materials between organelles and the cell surface. It helps cells sort, package, and deliver cargo to the right place. This process is essential for normal cell function. Cells use membrane-bound compartments to handle this movement. Vesicles are small membrane sacs that carry cargo from one location to another. They bud from one membrane and fuse with another membrane to release their contents. Membrane traffic also helps maintain the balance of membranes...

receptor-mediated endocytosis

Ligand Binding in Endocytosis

Receptor-mediated endocytosis is a selective way cells take in material from outside the cell. It begins when a ligand, or binding molecule, attaches to a receptor on the cell membrane. This interaction helps the cell capture specific substances instead of taking in everything around it. After the ligand binds, the membrane folds inward and forms a small pocket. That pocket pinches off and brings the bound material into the cell. This process shows how receptor binding directs endocytosis and...

key terms and concepts

Explore hypotonic, isotonic, and hypertonic solutions, how water moves in and out of cells, and why plant cells gain or lose turgor pressure.

How Cells Respond to Tonicity | JoVE K12

anatomy and physiology

JoVE Core Anatomy and Physiology showcases the anatomical and physiological details of the human body in comprehensive, clear, and engaging video animations. This collection of lessons focuses on the structures, components, functions, and requirements of the human body. It is complemented by scientist-in-action videos that demonstrate the application of this knowledge in real-world medical and research settings.

Chemistry of the Cell

The cell is chemically composed of water, organic molecules and inorganic ions.
Water
The polarity of the water molecule and its resulting hydrogen ...

Overview of Functional Groups

Functional groups are a group of atoms with characteristic properties, which when linked to the carbon skeleton of a molecule, alter the properties of ...

Introduction to Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates, proteins, and fats are the primary macronutrients in the human diet. However, carbohydrates are the most favored source of energy in the ...

Carbohydrate Metabolism

Sugars as Energy Storage Molecules

What are Lipids?

lipid-derived-compounds-in-the-human-body

Lipid-derived Compounds in the Human Body

Fats and lipids are crucial components in the human body. Some lipid-derived compounds, such as fat-soluble vitamins, eicosanoids, lipoproteins, and ...

Fats as Energy Storage Molecules

What are Proteins?

Protein Organization

Role of Proteins in the Human Body

Proteins are the building block of life. They are also&#160; the most abundant macromolecules with as many diverse roles in the body. They are part of ...

Introduction To Enzymes

Nucleic Acids and Nucleotides

Nucleic acids are the most important macromolecules for the continuity of life. They carry the cell&#39;s genetic blueprint and have instructions for its ...

Nucleic Acid Structure

The pentose sugar in DNA is deoxyribose, while in RNA the pentose sugar is ribose. The difference between the sugars is the presence of the hydroxyl group ...

ATP Energy Storage and Release

Relate the functions of different types of biomolecules, including carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids, to the structure and function of a cell.

BIO.5.A

What are Cells?

Cells are the smallest and basic units of life, whether it is a single cell that forms the entire organism, e.g., in a bacterium, or trillions of them, ...

Prokaryotic Cells

Prokaryotes are small unicellular organisms that include the domains&#x2014;Archaea and Bacteria. Bacteria include many common organisms, such as ...

Eukaryotic Compartmentalization

One of the distinguishing features of eukaryotic cells is that they contain membrane-bound organelles, such as the nucleus and mitochondria, that carry ...

Eukaryotic Evolution

The endosymbiont theory is the most widely accepted theory of eukaryotic evolution; however, its progression is still somewhat debated. According to the ...

comparing-mitochondrial-chloroplast-and-prokaryotic-genomes

Comparing Mitochondrial, Chloroplast, and Prokaryotic Genomes

The present-day mitochondrial and chloroplast genomes have retained some of the characteristics of their ancestral prokaryotes and also have acquired new ...

the-tree-of-life-bacteria-archaea-eukaryotes

The Tree of Life - Bacteria, Archaea, Eukaryotes

The &#8220;tree of life&#8221; describes the evolution of life and the evolutionary relationships between organisms. The root of the tree is the common ...

Genomic DNA in Prokaryotes

The genome of most prokaryotic organisms consists of double-stranded DNA organized into one circular chromosome in a region of cytoplasm called the ...

Genomic DNA in Eukaryotes

Eukaryotes have large genomes compared to prokaryotes. To fit their genomes into a cell, eukaryotic DNA is packaged extraordinarily tightly inside the ...

Cell Size

Cell sizes vary widely among and within organisms. Bacterial cells range between 1-10 micrometers (&#x3BC;m)and are considerably smaller than most ...

Cell Diversity

The concept of a cell started with microscopic observations of dead cork tissue by Robert Hooke in 1665. Hooke coined the term &#34;cell&#34; based on the ...

Compare and contrast prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, including their complexity, and compare and contrast scientific explanations for cellular complexity.

BIO.5.B

What is Homeostasis?

Maintaining homeostasis requires that the body continuously maintain its internal conditions. Each physiological condition has a particular set point, ...

Negative and Positive Feedback

Homeostatic Imbalance

Homeostasis is the maintenance of a stable internal environment within the body, which is crucial for the proper functioning of cells, tissues, organs, ...

pH Homeostasis

Acid-base homeostasis is essential for maintaining normal physiological activities in humans. The pH of various body fluids is strictly regulated because ...

The Significance of Membrane Transport

Diffusion

Diffusion is a type of passive transport. In passive transport, a substance tends to move from an area of high concentration to an area of low ...

Facilitated Transport

Osmosis

Osmosis is the movement of free water molecules through a semipermeable membrane.&#160; The water&#39;s concentration gradient across the membrane is ...

Primary Active Transport

Secondary Active Transport

Introduction to Membrane Traffic

Receptor-Mediated Endocytosis

Investigate homeostasis through the cellular transport of molecules.

What are Viruses?

Overview

A virus is a microscopic infectious particle that consists of an RNA or DNA genome enclosed in a protein shell. It is not able to reproduce on ...

Viral Structure

Viruses are extraordinarily diverse in shape and size, but they all have several structural features in common. All viruses have a core that contains a ...

Lytic Cycle of Bacteriophages

Bacteriophages, also known as phages, are specialized viruses that infect bacteria. A key characteristic of phages is their distinctive ...

Lysogenic Cycle of Bacteriophages

In contrast to the lytic cycle, phages infecting bacteria via the lysogenic cycle do not immediately kill their host cell. Instead, they combine their ...

Retrovirus Life Cycles

Retroviruses have a single-stranded RNA genome that undergoes a special form of replication. Once the retrovirus has entered the host cell, an enzyme ...

Viral Recombination

Cells are sometimes infected by more than one virus at once. When two viruses disassemble to expose their genomes for replication in the same cell, ...

Viral Mutations

A mutation is a change in the sequence of bases of DNA or RNA in a genome. Some mutations occur during replication of the genome due to errors made by the ...

Infection

When a pathogen enters the body and reproduces, it can cause an infection, damage body cells, and cause illness symptoms that eventually lead to disease. ...

Immune Response Against Viral Pathogens

Upon viral infection, cells secrete interferons to protect uninfected cells and activate the patrolling NK cells to initiate a non-specific innate immune ...

plaque-assay-method-to-determine-viral-titer-as-plaque-forming-units

Plaque Assay: A Method to Determine Viral Titer as Plaque Forming Units (PFU)

Source: Tilde Andersson1, Rolf Lood1
1 Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Division of Infection Medicine, Biomedical Center, Lund University, 221 00 ...

Compare the structures of viruses to cells and explain how viruses spread and cause disease.

BIO.5.D

Science concepts--biological structures, functions, and processes. The student knows that biological structures at multiple levels of organization perform specific functions and processes that affect life. The student is expected to:

How Cells Respond to Tonicity

Description

Transcript

Tags

More videos by Standards