Osmoregulation Flashcards
Osmoregulation (16 cards)
What is osmoregulation?
Maintains water and solute balance in the body
Essential for maintaining homeostasis and proper cell function.
What does homeostasis ensure?
Proper ion concentrations for muscle, nerve, and cell function
Critical for physiological processes.
What is the primary function of excretion?
Eliminates metabolic waste, mainly nitrogenous waste
Important for preventing toxic buildup in the body.
What challenges do marine animals face regarding osmoregulation?
Prevent dehydration and eliminate excess salts
Adaptations are required for survival in high-salinity environments.
What challenges do freshwater animals face regarding osmoregulation?
Prevent dilution of body fluids and absorb salts
Freshwater environments have lower solute concentrations.
What challenges do terrestrial animals face regarding osmoregulation?
Prevent dehydration and regulate salt balance
Adaptations include behaviors and physiological mechanisms.
Define osmosis.
Water moves across membranes due to solute concentration differences
A fundamental process in osmoregulation.
What is osmolarity measured in?
Milliosmoles per liter (mOsm/L)
A key measurement for understanding solute concentrations.
What is the osmolarity of human blood?
300 mOsm/L
This is the standard osmotic concentration for human physiology.
What is the osmolarity of seawater?
1,000 mOsm/L
Significantly higher than human blood, impacting marine life.
What characterizes an isoosmotic solution?
Equal solute concentration on both sides of the membrane
No net movement of water occurs.
What is a hyperosmotic solution?
Higher solute concentration; water moves into it
Can lead to cellular dehydration if not regulated.
What is a hypoosmotic solution?
Lower solute concentration; water moves out of it
Cells may swell or burst in such environments without regulation.
What are osmoregulators?
Most vertebrates, freshwater animals, and land animals that control internal osmolarity
This process requires energy.
What are osmoconformers?
Marine invertebrates whose internal osmolarity matches external environment
No energy is used for osmoregulation.
What is the difference between stenohaline and euryhaline animals?
Stenohaline cannot tolerate large osmolarity changes; euryhaline can survive in varying osmolarity
Examples include most fish (stenohaline) and salmon (euryhaline).
