Cytolysis

Definition

Cytolysis is the process in which a cell bursts due to an influx of water, causing it to swell beyond its capacity and eventually rupture. This event occurs when a cell is placed in a hypotonic solution, leading to an imbalance in osmotic pressure. Understanding cytolysis is crucial as it highlights the consequences of osmotic imbalances and the importance of maintaining homeostasis within cells.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Cytolysis typically occurs when animal cells are placed in a hypotonic solution, where the concentration of solutes outside the cell is lower than inside.
2. When water enters the cell through osmosis, it causes the cell to swell and increases internal pressure until the cell membrane cannot withstand it, leading to rupture.
3. Plant cells can also experience cytolysis, but they are more likely to undergo plasmolysis due to their rigid cell walls which help resist bursting.
4. Cytolysis is a critical concept in understanding cell behavior in different environmental conditions, particularly in relation to osmotic pressure.
5. Preventing cytolysis is important for cell survival, and cells have mechanisms like contractile vacuoles in certain organisms to expel excess water.

Review Questions

• How does cytolysis relate to the principles of osmosis and the impact of hypotonic solutions on cells?
  • Cytolysis is directly related to osmosis because it occurs when water moves into a cell placed in a hypotonic solution. In such solutions, the concentration of solutes outside the cell is lower than inside, resulting in water entering the cell to balance solute concentrations. This influx of water increases internal pressure, ultimately leading to cytolysis if the cell cannot accommodate the swelling.
• Discuss the differences between cytolysis and plasmolysis, particularly focusing on their implications for animal and plant cells.
  • Cytolysis occurs primarily in animal cells when they swell and burst due to excess water intake in hypotonic solutions. In contrast, plasmolysis occurs in plant cells when they lose water and shrink away from their rigid cell walls in hypertonic solutions. While cytolysis results from an influx of water leading to cell rupture, plasmolysis represents a loss of turgor pressure, which can affect plant structure and function without causing rupture.
• Evaluate how understanding cytolysis can inform medical practices related to fluid therapy and cellular health.
  • Understanding cytolysis can significantly influence medical practices like fluid therapy by ensuring proper balance of solutes and fluids when treating patients. For instance, administering an incorrect saline solution could lead to unintended cytolysis in red blood cells if a hypotonic solution is used. This knowledge emphasizes the importance of osmotic balance for maintaining cellular health and avoiding complications associated with cellular swelling or bursting during treatment.

Related terms

Osmosis:

The movement of water molecules across a selectively permeable membrane from an area of lower solute concentration to an area of higher solute concentration.

Hypotonic Solution: A solution that has a lower concentration of solutes compared to another solution, resulting in water entering the cell and potentially causing cytolysis.

Homeostasis: The maintenance of stable internal conditions within an organism or cell, despite external changes in the environment.