Question

Compare the osmotic pressure of water to pressure of red blood cells. Is water isotonic, hypertonic or hypotonic compared to red blood cells? Explain.

Answer 1

Osmosis - Blood Cells

The Effect of Osmotic Pressure on Red Blood Cells

The effect of osmotic pressure on red blood cells in shown. From left to right, the effect is depicted of a hypertonic, isotonic and hypotonic solution on red blood cells.

Hypertonic Solution or Hypertonicicty

When the osmotic pressure of the solution outside the blood cells in higher than the osmotic pressure inside the red blood cells, the solution is hypertonic. The water inside the blood cells exits the cells in an attempt to equalize the osmotic pressure, causing the cells to shrink.

Isotonic Solution or Isotonicity

When the osmotic pressure outside the red blood cells is the same as the pressure inside the cells, the solution is isotonic with respect to the cytoplasm. This is the usual condition of red blood cells in plasma. The cells are normal.

Hypotonic Solution or Hypotonicity

When the solution outside of the red blood cells has a lower osmotic pressure than the cytoplasm of the red blood cells, the solution is hypotonic with respect to the cells. The cells take in water in an attempt to equalize the osmotic pressure, causing them to swell and potentially burst.