Adhesion

Definition

Adhesion is the tendency of dissimilar particles or surfaces to cling to one another. This phenomenon is crucial for various biological processes and is primarily influenced by the interactions between molecules, such as hydrogen bonds and van der Waals forces. In biological systems, adhesion plays a vital role in maintaining the structural integrity of cells and tissues, facilitating the interaction of different materials, and contributing to processes like capillary action in plants.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Adhesion is essential for water's ability to travel upward against gravity in plant vessels, allowing nutrients and water to reach all parts of the plant.
2. The adhesion of water molecules to other surfaces can create a meniscus in a container, demonstrating how water interacts with solid materials.
3. In biological tissues, adhesion molecules facilitate cell signaling and communication, playing an important role in processes like immune response and tissue repair.
4. The degree of adhesion can be affected by factors such as surface roughness and chemical composition, influencing how different materials interact with each other.
5. Adhesive interactions are crucial in medical applications, including drug delivery systems where medications must adhere to target tissues effectively.

Review Questions

• How does adhesion contribute to water transport in plants, and why is this process important for their survival?
  • Adhesion plays a critical role in water transport in plants by allowing water molecules to cling to the walls of xylem vessels. This interaction helps counteract the force of gravity, enabling water to move upward from roots to leaves. Without this process, plants would struggle to maintain hydration and nutrient transport, directly impacting their growth and survival.
• Discuss how adhesion influences cellular interactions within biological tissues and its significance in health and disease.
  • Adhesion influences cellular interactions through the use of adhesion molecules that facilitate communication and binding between cells. This process is vital for maintaining tissue structure and function. In health, effective adhesion supports normal tissue repair and immune responses; however, abnormal adhesion can contribute to diseases such as cancer metastasis or inflammatory conditions, where cell behavior changes disrupt normal tissue homeostasis.
• Evaluate the impact of adhesive properties on the development of medical technologies, particularly in drug delivery systems.
  • The adhesive properties of materials used in drug delivery systems have a significant impact on their effectiveness. By optimizing adhesion between drug formulations and target tissues, scientists can enhance drug absorption and therapeutic outcomes. The evaluation of these adhesive characteristics is crucial for developing more effective treatments that minimize side effects and maximize drug efficacy, showcasing the importance of adhesion in advancing medical technology.

Related terms

Cohesion: Cohesion refers to the attraction between similar molecules, which helps substances stick together, contributing to properties like surface tension.

Surface Tension: Surface tension is the elastic tendency of a fluid surface that makes it acquire the least surface area possible, influenced by cohesive forces among liquid molecules.

Capillary Action: Capillary action is the ability of a liquid to flow in narrow spaces without external forces, resulting from a combination of adhesive and cohesive forces.