If cells are placed in a hypertonic solution,
A) water diffuses into the cells and the cells swell and eventually burst in a process called hemolysis.
B) water diffuses into the cells and the cells swell and eventually burst in a process called crenation.
C) water diffuses out of the cells and the cells shrink in a process called hemolysis.
D) water diffuses out of the cells and the cells shrink in a process called crenation.
The correct answer and explanation is :
Correct Answer:
D) Water diffuses out of the cells, and the cells shrink in a process called crenation.
Explanation:
A hypertonic solution is a solution that has a higher solute concentration (e.g., salt or sugar) than the cytoplasm of the cell. This difference in solute concentration creates an osmotic gradient, causing water to move out of the cell by osmosis. The movement of water follows the principle of osmosis, where water moves from an area of lower solute concentration (inside the cell) to an area of higher solute concentration (outside the cell) to equalize the solute levels.
As water exits the cell, the cell loses volume and shrinks. In animal cells, particularly red blood cells (RBCs), this shrinkage is known as crenation. Crenated cells appear wrinkled or shriveled under a microscope due to the loss of water. In contrast, in plant cells, water loss in a hypertonic solution leads to plasmolysis, where the cell membrane pulls away from the cell wall.
This process is important in biological systems. For example:
- If a person is dehydrated and receives an IV infusion of a hypertonic saline solution, their red blood cells can undergo crenation.
- Marine animals that live in high-salinity environments must regulate their cellular water balance to prevent excessive water loss.
The incorrect options:
- Option A & B: Hemolysis is the bursting of cells, which occurs in a hypotonic solution (low solute concentration outside, causing water to enter the cells).
- Option C: Hemolysis is incorrectly associated with a hypertonic environment.
Below is an image illustrating crenation in red blood cells in a hypertonic solution.
Image Representation:
Crenated red blood cells in a hypertonic solution.
Here is the image illustrating crenation in red blood cells when placed in a hypertonic solution. You can see that the cells appear shriveled and spiky due to water loss, demonstrating the process effectively.