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Tonicity: Isotonic Solution

Tonicity refers to how solutions can change cell volume through osmosis. An isotonic solution has the same osmolarity as the cell, so there is no net water movement. Osmolarity describes the total solute concentration and is normally expressed in osmoles per liter. A hypotonic solution will cause cells to swell as water enters, while a hypertonic solution causes water to leave and cells to shrink. There are several types of transport across membranes, including simple diffusion, facilitated diffusion, and active transport.

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111 views5 pages

Tonicity: Isotonic Solution

Tonicity refers to how solutions can change cell volume through osmosis. An isotonic solution has the same osmolarity as the cell, so there is no net water movement. Osmolarity describes the total solute concentration and is normally expressed in osmoles per liter. A hypotonic solution will cause cells to swell as water enters, while a hypertonic solution causes water to leave and cells to shrink. There are several types of transport across membranes, including simple diffusion, facilitated diffusion, and active transport.

Uploaded by

Gembelle Mayorga
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Tonicity Isotonic solution

describes how an extracellular solution can change the extracellular fluid has the same osmolarity as
the volume of a cell by affecting osmosis. the cell; there will be no net movement of water
into or out of the cell.
solution’s tonicity often directly correlates with the
osmolarity of the solution. same osmotic pressure.

Osmolarity passive transport, which requires no energy;

describes the total solute concentration of the higher concentration to an area of lower
solution. concentration.

The osmotic concentration of a solution, normally active transport, which requires energy.
expressed as osmoles of solute per litre of solution. Lower concentration to higher concentration
solution with low osmolarity has a greater number energy.
of water molecules relative to the number of solute Use enzyme and energy (ATP)
particles;
Simple diffusion
a solution with high osmolarity has fewer water
molecules with respect to solute particles. is the movement of a substance due to differences
in concentration without any help from other
solute cannot move across the membrane, and molecules.
thus the only component in the system that can
move—the water—moves along its own Solutes moves from higher concentration to lower
concentration gradient. concentration

a solution that is cloudy with cells may have a very small, hydrophobic molecules, such as oxygen
lower osmolarity than a solution that is clear. and carbon dioxide, enter and leave the cell.
Osmosis is the diffusion of water molecules across
a membrane.
Three terms—hypotonic, isotonic, and hypertonic
—are used to relate the osmolarity of a cell to the Facilitated diffusion
osmolarity of the extracellular fluid. is the movement of a substance across a
Hypotonic solution membrane due to differences in concentration but
only occurs with the help of transport proteins
the extracellular fluid has a lower osmolarity than
the fluid inside the cell; water enters the cell. such as channel proteins or carrier proteins, in the
membrane.
causing it to swell.
Hypertonic solution
the extracellular fluid has a higher osmolarity than
the fluid inside the cell; water leaves the cell.
greater osmotic pressure than another/shrink

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