This paper focuses on osmosis aspect of cell transport. Osmosis refers to the spontaneous movement of the solvent molecule through a semi-permeable membrane into a solution which has a higher concentration of solvent molecules and as a result equalizing the material concentration on both sides of the membrane (Darnell, Lodish & Baltimore, 1990). Tonicity refers to a property of a solution that relies on the osmotic force spread across the membrane as influenced by different concentrations of solutions out and in of the cell.
Importance of Tonicity
Tonicity is essential because it determines how osmosis pushes water, which may be out or into the cell. Cells hypotonic to their surrounding may dry because the water in their cytosol gets outs. On the other hand, cells hypertonic to their environment can swell and burst from water that gets in. Fluid temperature and glucose concentration have minimal effects on elimination and fluid absorption and because of this; fluid tonicity plays a vital role in the elimination and uptake of orally administered fluid.
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Tonicity also plays an important role in maintaining the balance of solutes and water which is important to the health of a plant. The extracellular fluid becomes hypertonic or isotonic which later causes water to leave the plant cell if a plant is not watered (Fernandes, Gallão & Rodrigues, 2009). Plants are hypertonic relative to the environment extracellular using the cell walls to prevent them from bursting. The hypertonic solution can be used in drying sinuses. The solutions can also be used for exfoliation or even in cleaning wounds. Tonicity can also help to preserve cosmetics though not enough alone. The principle of hypertonic solution for preservation in food staff is used in food items like pickles and jam.
Since tonicity determines the movement of water in and out of the cell, if this movement of water is not controlled, cells that are hypertonic to the environment receive a lot of water which make them swell and later the cell burst (Fernandes, Gallão, & Rodrigues, 2009). On the other hand, cells may also dry if the water in cytosol flows out.
References
Darnell, J. E., Lodish, H., & Baltimore, D. (1990). Molecular cell biology (Vol. 2). New York: Scientific American Books.
Fernandes, F. A., Gallão, M. I., & Rodrigues, S. (2009). Effect of osmosis and ultrasound on pineapple cell tissue structure during dehydration. Journal of Food Engineering , 90 (2), 186-190.
