Animal Osmoregulation #2 Flashcards
(60 cards)
Osmoregulation
Process by which organisms maintain the balance of water and salts (electrolytes) in their body and keep internal conditions stable
- maintains osmotic concentration and pressure
Why is osmoregulation important
- keeps cells from swelling or shrinking
- maintains blood pressure and PH
- supports proper nerve and muscle function
What is the main organ/ structure involved in mammal osmoregulation
Kidneys
What is the main organ/ structure involved in fish osmoregulation
Gills
What is the main organ/ structure involved in amphibians osmoregulation
Skin
What is the main organ/ structure involved in insect osmoregulation
Malpighian tubules
Osmoregulation of freshwater animals
Water enters body- removes excess water via dilute urine
What is the osmoregulation strategy of saltwater animals
Lose water to surroundings- drink seawater, excrete salt
What is the osmoregulation strategy of land animals
Lose water through evaporation- conserve water via urine
Whats the total body water in humans
Intracellular fluids (2/3)
Extracellular fluids (1/3)
- plasma
- interstitial
- trans cellular eg, ocular, gastrointestinal and cerebrospinal
Solvent
Substance that can dissolve a solute
Ie, in saltwater, water is the solvent
Solute
The substance that gets dissolved
Ie, in saltwater, salt is the solute
Osmole
Number of moles of solutes in a solvent
Osmolality
Measure of osmoles of solutes in a per kilogram of solvent (Osm/kg)
Osmolarity (osmotic concentration)
Measure of osmoles of solutes in a per litre of solution (Osm/L)
Water potential
Measures the concentration of free water molecules. It is a measure of the tendency of these molecules to diffuse to another area
Tells us which way water will move- from high water potential to low water potential
Solution
Mixture of solute and solvent
Ie,
saltwater is the solution
What is the water potential units
Pascals or megapascals
What is the water potential of pure water and all other solutions
Pure water- 0 MPa
Other solutions- negative WP
Iso-osmotic
Hyperosmotic
Hypo-osmotic
Iso-osmotic- Same solute concentration inside and outside (no movement)
Hyperosmotic- cell has a higher solute concentration ie, more salt inside cell (lower water potential) than outside (water moves into the cell- swelling)
- more salt outside water moves out to balance
Hypo-osmotic- cell has a lower solute concentration ie, less salt inside (higher water potential) than outside (water moves out of the cell- shrinking)
- more salt inside water moves in to balance
What is osmosis
Water movement from a high to low water concentration across a semi permeable membrane
What is diffusion
Passive movement of solutes with the concentration gradient (high to low)
What is active transport
(Requires ATP) movement of solutes against the concentration gradient (low to high)
How long is the human nephron
60km