Ch. 43 Water & Electrolyte Balance in Animals Flashcards
(90 cards)
electrolyte
any compound that dissociates into ions when dissolved in water
- (in nutrition) any of the major ions necessary for normal cell function
- active ions
- dissipate quickly
(ie) Na, Cl, K & Ca
diffusion
the movement of substances from regions of higher concentration to regions of lower concentration, along their concentration gradients
SUBSTANCES
osmosis
the diffusion of water through a selectively permeable membrane from areas of higher water concentration to areas of lower water concentration
WATER
solutes
dissolved substances
- move down their concentration gradients across a selectively permeable membrane via diffusion
concentration gradient
difference across space (ie. membrane) in the concentration of a dissolved substance
osmolarity
the concentration of dissolved substances in a solution, measured in moles per liter
osmotic stress
occurs when the concentration of dissolved substances in a cell or tissue is abnormal
osmoregulation
process by which a living organism controls the concentration of water and salts in its body
(ie) living organisms control the concentration of water and salt in their bodies through osmoregulation
osmoconformer
an animal that does not actually regulate the osmolarity of its tissues but conforms to the osmolarity of the surrounding environment
- make inside same as outside (in between)
(ie) jellyfish make tissue concentration equal to water (isotonic)
osmoregulator
an animal that actively regulates osmolarity inside their bodies to achieve homeostasis
- required in marine vertebrates because their tissues are hypotonic to salt water
- lose water by osmosis
- gain electrolytes by diffusion
(ie) most marine fish by removing/gaining water or salt
hypotonic
solution inside the cells contains fewer solutes than the solution outside
- cells gain water through osmosis
- lose electrolytes by diffusion
ways land animals lose water
when they produce urine/sweat or pant
passive transport
diffusion of a substance across a membrane
- driven by diffusion along an electrochemical gradient
- does not requireATP
- type: facilitated difussion
- transport smaller substances
facilitated diffusion
passive movement of substance across a membrane with the assistance of transmembrane carrier proteins or channel proteins
active transport
the movement of of ions or molecules across a membrane against an electrochemical gradient
- requires energy (ATP)
most important type of pump in animals
sodium-potassium pump (Na+/K+-ATPase)
secondary active transport
transport of an ion or miolecule in a defined direction that is often against its electrochemical gradient, in company with an ion or molecule being transported along its electrochemical gradient
- once a pump establishes a concentration gradient, secondary active transport can occur
cotransporter
a transmembrane protein that facilitates diffusion of an ion down its previously established electrochemical gradient and uses the energy of that process to transport some other substances, in the same or opposite direction, AGAINST its concentration gradient
- energy released when a solute is transported along its concentration gradient can be used by a cotransporter to transport another molecule against its concentration gradient
types of cotransporters
1) symporter
2) antiporter
sympoter
move solutes in the same direction
anitporter
move solutes in the same direction
rectal gland
a salt-secreting gland in the digestive system of sharks, skates, and rays
- ions can be concentrated only if they are actively transported against a concentration gradient
location of sodium-potassium pumps in shark
epithelial cells along the inner surface, or lumen, of the shark rectal gland
ouabain
a plant defense compound that is toxic to animals
- prevents Na+/K+-ATPase from functioning