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Diffusion:
A solution consists of one or more substances called solutes dissolved in the predominant
liquid or gas, which is called the solvent.
Diffusion is the movement of solutes from an area of higher solute concentration to an
area of lower solute concentration.
A concentration difference occurs when the concentration of a
solute is greater at one point than at another point in a solvent. The
concentration difference between two points, divided by the distance between the two
points, is called the concentration, or density gradient.

Diffusion of molecules is an important means by which substances move between the

extracellular and intracellular fluids
in the body.
Some nutrients enter and some waste
products leave the cell by diffusion, and maintenance of the appropriate intracellular
concentration of these substances depends to a
large degree on diffusion. For example, if the extracellular concentration of oxygen is
reduced, inadequate oxygen diffuses into the
cell, and normal cell function cannot occur. Some lipid-soluble chemical signals can
diffuse through the plasma membrane and
attach to receptors inside the cell.
Osmosis
Osmosis is the diffusion of water (solvent) across a selectively permeable membrane.
In osmosis, water moves through a selectively permeable
membrane from an area of lower solute concentration to an area
of higher solute concentration.

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Osmosis occurs only when a membrane is permeable to water

but is not permeable to certain solutes.
Osmotic pressure is the force required to prevent the movement of water by osmosis
across a selectively permeable membrane.
The osmotic pressure of a solution can be determined by placing
the solution into a tube that is closed at one end by a selectively
permeable membrane
The tube is then immersed in distilled water.
Water molecules move by osmosis through the
membrane into the tube, forcing the solution to move up the tube.
As the solution rises into the tube, its weight produces hydrostatic pressure, which moves
water out of the tube back into the distilled water surrounding the tube.
At equilibrium, net movement of water stops, which means the movement of water into
the tube by osmosis is equal to the movement of water out of the tube caused by
hydrostatic pressure.
The osmotic pressure of the solution in the
tube is equal to the hydrostatic pressure that prevents net movement of water into the
tube.

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Terms describing osmotic pressure:

Three terms describe the osmotic pressure of solutions.
Isosmotic:
Solutions with the same concentration of solute particles have the same osmotic pressure
and are referred to as isosmotic.
Hyperosmotic:
If one solution has a greater concentration of solute particles, and therefore a greater
osmotic pressure than another solution, the first solution is said to be hyperosmotic.
Hyposmotic:
The more dilute
solution, with the lower osmotic pressure, is hyposmotic.
Tendency of cells to swell or shrink when placed in a solution
Three terms:
Isotonic: If a cell is placed into a
solution in which it neither
shrinks nor swells, the solution is
said to be isotonic.
HypertonicIf a cell is placed into
a solution and water moves out
of the cell by osmosis, causing
the
cell to shrink, the solution is
Hypotonic:If a cell is placed into a
solution and water moves into
the cell by
osmosis, causing the cell to swell,
the solution is called hypotonic.

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