Questions and Answers
What is tonicity?
Tonicity refers to the ability of a solution to change shape or tone of cells by altering the cells internal water volume.
Which term refers to cells retaining normal size and shape?
What happens to cells in a hypertonic solution?
What does a hypertonic solution contain?
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What occurs in a hypotonic solution?
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What occurs when cells take on water by osmosis?
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What does a hypotonic solution contain?
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Study Notes
Tonicity
- Tonicity defines a solution's capacity to modify cell shape and volume by affecting internal water levels.
Isotonic Solutions
- Isotonic solutions maintain cell size and shape without inducing water movement across the cell membrane.
Hypertonic Solutions
- Hypertonic solutions cause cells to shrink due to water loss, leading to dehydration.
- These solutions have a higher solute concentration compared to the intracellular environment.
Hypotonic Solutions
- Hypotonic solutions result in cells absorbing excess water, potentially causing them to swell and burst (lyse).
- These solutions possess a lower solute concentration than that of the cell interior.
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Description
Explore the key concepts of tonicity in cells with this flashcard quiz. Learn about isotonic, hypertonic, and other solutions that affect cell shape and volume. Perfect for students studying anatomy and physiology.
