Osmoregulation and Fluid Compartments

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to osmoregulation, fluid compartments, and the physiological adaptations of organisms in different osmotic environments.

Intracellular Fluid (ICF)

The fluid within cells that helps maintain cellular processes.

Extracellular Fluid (ECF)

The fluid outside of cells, including interstitial fluid and blood plasma.

Osmoregulation

The process of regulating osmotic pressure to maintain homeostasis in body fluids.

Osmolarity

The measure of solute concentration expressed as osmoles per litre.

Osmoregulatory Mechanisms

Biological processes that regulate ion concentrations and osmotic balance.

Transcellular Transport

Movement of water through cell membranes via channels like aquaporins.

Paracellular Transport

Movement of water between cells through leaky junctions.

Osmotic Gradient

The difference in osmotic pressure that drives water movement.

Isotonic Solution

A solution with the same osmolarity as inside the cell, preventing net movement of water.

Osmoregulator

An organism that maintains constant osmotic conditions in its body fluids, regardless of the external environment.

Osmoconformer

An organism whose body fluids have osmotic pressure equal to its external environment.

Hypotonic Solution

A solution with a lower osmolarity than the cell, leading to water influx.

Hypertonic Solution

A solution with a higher osmolarity than the cell, leading to water loss.

Osmotic Pressure

The pressure exerted by solutes that prevents the movement of water across a semi-permeable membrane.

Osmolytes

Molecules, either inorganic or organic, that contribute to osmotic pressure.

Euryhaline Environment

An environment where organisms can tolerate a wide range of salinities.

Stenohaline Environment

An environment that presents a narrow range of salinity conditions, typically affecting the organisms living there.

Regulatory Volume Increase

The process by which cells gain solutes to counteract osmotic pressure changes.

Regulatory Volume Decrease

The process by which cells lose solutes to adapt to osmotic pressure changes.

Salmon Life Cycle Adaptation

The physiological adaptation salmon undergo during migration between freshwater and saltwater environments.

Osmotic Homeostasis

The maintenance of a stable osmotic state in an organism's body fluids.