Definition: the movement of water from an area of
high concentration to an area of low concentration
through a partially permeable membrane
Partially permeable membrane has very small holes
in it - only tiny molecules like water can pass through
Water molecules pass both ways
through the membrane during osmosis
- molecules move about randomly
More on one side - net flow of
water to area of low concentration
Stronger sugar solution gets more
dilute - water acts like it's trying to even
up the concentration on either side
Tissue fluid surrounds cells in body -
water with oxygen, glucose etc
Will usually have different concentration to fluid
inside cell - water will move in or out of the cell
If cell is short of water it will be concentrated - solution
outside is dilute, water will move in by osmosis
If cell has lots of water, will be more dilute -
water will be drawn out of cell by osmosis
Gas & solute exchange
Substances move by diffusion,
osmosis & active transport
Life processes need gases/other
dissolved substances & waste substances
also need to move out of cells
Have to move through exchange surfaces which are adapted by:
Being thin - shorter
diffusion distance
Having a large SA - lots of
substance can diffuse at once
Having lots of blood vessels
(animals) - to get stuff in/out of blood
Being ventilated (animals)
- air moves in/out
Structure of leaves lets gases diffuse in/out
Carbon dioxide diffuses into air spaces in leaf, then into cells
Underneath of leaf is an exchange surface - covered
in stomata which carbon dioxide diffuses in through
Oxygen & water vapour diffuse out through stomata
Size of stomata controlled by guard cells - close if
plant is losing water faster than getting from roots
Flattened shape of leaf increases
area of exchange surface
Walls of cells inside leaf = another
exchange surface - air spaces
inside leaf increase area of surface
Water vapour evaporates from cells
inside leaf, escapes by diffusion (lots
inside, less outside) = evaporation
quickest in hot, dry, windy conditions
Diffusion through cell membranes
Gas exchange happens in the lungs - lungs transfer oxygen
to RBC & remove waste carbon dioxide from plasma
Lungs contain aveoli where
gas exchange takes place
Adapted to maximise diffusion of
oxygen & carbon dioxide by having:
Large SA
Moist lining - for
dissolving gases
Thin walls
Good blood
supply
Small intestine is covered in villi - they increase the surface
area so digested food is absorbed quickly into the blood
Adapted by having:
Single layer of surface cells
Good blood supply to
assist quick absoption
Active transport
Definition: The process that allows substances to be absorbed against a concentration
gradient (from low to high concentration) which requires energy (from respiration)
Root hairs - specialised to
absorb water & minerals
Cells on surface of plant roots
grow into hairs which increase SA
The concentration of minerals is usually higher in
the root hair cell - active transport has to happen
Used in gut - when there's low concentration
of nutrients in gut but high in blood