Water Balance and Osmoregulation

These flashcards cover key vocabulary related to the topics of water balance, osmosis, and excretion, providing definitions and contextual information for study.

Water Balance

The maintenance of a constant volume, solute content, and temperature of the body's extracellular fluid.

Homeostasis

The process of maintaining a stable internal environment despite changes in external conditions.

Osmosis

The movement of water molecules from a region of high concentration to a region of lower concentration across a selectively permeable membrane.

Selective Permeability

The property of a membrane that allows certain molecules to pass through while restricting others.

Hyperosmotic

Referring to a solution with a higher concentration of solute molecules compared to another solution.

Hypoosmotic

Referring to a solution with a lower concentration of solute molecules compared to another solution.

Isoosmotic

Referring to two solutions that have equal concentrations of solute.

Osmotic Pressure

The pressure that results from a difference in solute concentration between two sides of a selectively permeable membrane.

Turgor Pressure

The pressure exerted by water inside plant cells against the cell wall, maintaining rigidity.

Excretion

The elimination of waste products and foreign matter from the body.

Osmoregulation

The process of actively regulating the osmotic pressure of bodily fluids and cells.

Ionic Balance

The regulation of ions within a cell or organism to maintain homeostasis.

Nitrogenous Waste

Waste products containing nitrogen from the metabolism of proteins and nucleic acids.

Deamination

The process of removing an amino group from an amino acid.

Ammonia

A toxic waste product formed during the deamination of proteins.

Urea

A less toxic compound formed from ammonia in mammals and some reptiles.

Uric Acid

A non-toxic nitrogenous waste product that is excreted by birds and some terrestrial invertebrates.

Aquatic Organisms

Organisms that live in water and must regulate their internal fluid concentrations.

Terrestrial Organisms

Organisms that live on land and require mechanisms to conserve water.

Kidneys

Organs that filter blood and remove waste products through urine.

Bladder

An organ that stores urine until it is excreted.

Water Concentration Gradient

The difference in water concentration across a membrane, driving osmosis.

Hydrostatic Pressure

The pressure exerted by a fluid at equilibrium due to gravity.

Cell Membrane

The biological membrane that separates and protects the interior of the cell.

Plant Cells

Cells that have a rigid cell wall and require turgor pressure to maintain structure.

Animal Cells

Cells that lack a cell wall, making them susceptible to osmotic pressure changes.

Homeostatic Mechanisms

Biological processes that maintain a stable internal environment.

Ectothermic Animals

Animals that rely on external environmental conditions to regulate body temperature.

Endothermic Animals

Animals that maintain a stable internal body temperature through metabolic processes.

Freshwater Environment

An environment with low solute concentration, such as rivers and lakes.

Saltwater Environment

An environment with high solute concentration, such as oceans.

Metabolic Waste

By-products of metabolic processes that must be eliminated from the body.

Regulatory Mechanisms

The processes that organisms use to maintain homeostasis.

Intracellular Fluid

The fluid contained within cells.

Extracellular Fluid

The fluid located outside of cells.

Sodium and Potassium

Essential ions that play key roles in cellular function and osmotic balance.

Ecosystem Adaptations

The changes and characteristics organisms develop to survive in their environment.

Fluid Dynamics

The study of how fluids behave and interact.

Solute Concentration

The amount of solute present in a given volume of solvent.

Metabolism

The chemical reactions that occur within a living organism to maintain life.

Natural Selection

The process through which traits that enhance survival and reproduction are passed on.

Environmental Impact

The effect of human and natural actions on ecosystems and organisms.

Respiratory Systems

Systems in organisms that facilitate the exchange of gases with the environment.

Nutrient Transport

The movement of essential substances throughout an organism.

Cellular Processes

Biological functions that occur within cells.

Biological Membranes

Layers that separate the interior of the cell from its external environment.

Energy Requirements

The amount of energy needed to sustain biological processes.