Table of contents

1. Introduction to Anatomy & Physiology5h 43m
2. Cell Chemistry & Cell Components12h 36m
3. Energy & Cell Processes10h 6m
4. Tissues & Histology10h 3m
5. Integumentary System2h 20m
6. Bones & Skeletal Tissue2h 16m
7. The Skeletal System2h 35m
8. Joints2h 17m
9. Muscle Tissue2h 33m
10. Muscles1h 11m
11. Nervous Tissue and Nervous System1h 35m
12. The Central Nervous System1h 6m
- Introduction to the Central Nervous System
  18m
- The Cerebrum
  48m
13. The Peripheral Nervous System1h 26m
14. The Autonomic Nervous System1h 38m
15. The Special Senses2h 41m
16. The Endocrine System2h 48m
17. The Blood3h 22m
18. The Heart3h 42m
19. The Blood Vessels3h 35m
20. The Lymphatic System3h 16m
21. The Immune System14h 37m
22. The Respiratory System3h 20m
23. The Digestive System2h 5m
24. Metabolism and Nutrition4h 0m
25. The Urinary System2h 39m
26. Fluid and Electrolyte Balance, Acid Base Balance37m
27. The Reproductive System2h 5m
28. Human Development1h 21m
29. Heredity3h 32m

2. Cell Chemistry & Cell Components

Concentration Gradients and Diffusion

Anatomy & Physiology

2. Cell Chemistry & Cell Components

Concentration Gradients and Diffusion

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6:33 minutes

Problem 8

Textbook Question

A hypotonic solution will cause water to move the cell, and the cell will .
A hypertonic solution will cause water to move the cell, and the cell will .

Verified step by step guidance

Understand the concept of tonicity: Tonicity refers to the relative concentration of solutes in a solution compared to the inside of a cell. A hypotonic solution has a lower solute concentration than the cell, while a hypertonic solution has a higher solute concentration than the cell.

Recall the principle of osmosis: Water moves across a semipermeable membrane from an area of lower solute concentration (higher water concentration) to an area of higher solute concentration (lower water concentration).

For a hypotonic solution: Since the solution has a lower solute concentration than the cell, water will move into the cell. This influx of water can cause the cell to swell and potentially burst (lyse) if the influx is excessive.

For a hypertonic solution: Since the solution has a higher solute concentration than the cell, water will move out of the cell. This efflux of water can cause the cell to shrink (crenate).

Summarize the effects: In a hypotonic solution, water moves into the cell, and the cell swells. In a hypertonic solution, water moves out of the cell, and the cell shrinks.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Osmosis

Osmosis is the movement of water molecules across a selectively permeable membrane from an area of lower solute concentration to an area of higher solute concentration. This process is crucial for maintaining cellular homeostasis and is driven by the concentration gradient of solutes.

Hypotonic Solution

A hypotonic solution has a lower concentration of solutes compared to the inside of a cell. When a cell is placed in a hypotonic solution, water moves into the cell, causing it to swell and potentially burst due to increased internal pressure.

Hypertonic Solution

A hypertonic solution has a higher concentration of solutes than the inside of a cell. In this scenario, water moves out of the cell into the surrounding solution, leading to cell shrinkage or crenation as the cell loses water to balance the solute concentrations.

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Related Practice

Multiple Choice

What allows sodium and potassium ions to diffuse down their electrochemical gradient across the cell membrane?

Multiple Choice

Which of the following statements about diffusion is true?

A substance moving across a membrane against a concentration gradient is moving by .a. passive transport;b. osmosis;c. facilitated diffusion;d. active transport;e. diffusion

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Textbook Question

A patient is admitted to the hospital and given intravenous (IV) fluids. Four hours later, the patient complains that his mouth and eyes feel dry. You notice that he displays signs of dehydration, and when you check his IV, you see that he was given the wrong kind of fluids. Were these fluids likely hypotonic, isotonic, or hypertonic? Explain.

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Multiple Choice

Why is there a concentration gradient of NaCl in the medulla of the kidney?

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Multiple Choice

What allows sodium and potassium ions to diffuse down their electrochemical gradient across the cell membrane?

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