ph balance & osmosis
Overview
All organisms must maintain a balance between their internal aqueous environment and the external environment. Land organisms in particular must have mechanisms to conserve water and maintain a homeostatic balance of solutes within the body.
Osmoregulation regulates the osmosis of water and work to maintain the concentration of ions in and out of cells. Osmoregulation is closely linked to the process of excretion, in which animals expel the waste products of metabolism to the external environment. The excretory system removes nitrogenous waste, excess water, and toxic compounds from the body. The main organs in the excretory systems are the liver and the kidney. |
|
Osmosis
During osmosis, water molecules move from a region of high concentration to a region of low concentration. This movement occurs through a selectively permeable membrane. The membrane only allows in water and very small solute molecules, and as a result, maintains the concentration of solute on the two sides of the membrane.
To ensure the chemical and structural stability of the body cells, the extracellular fluid must be isoosmotic with the intracellular fluid inside the cells.
Osmoregulation: the process of actively regulating the osmotic pressure of bodily fluids and cells
To ensure the chemical and structural stability of the body cells, the extracellular fluid must be isoosmotic with the intracellular fluid inside the cells.
Osmoregulation: the process of actively regulating the osmotic pressure of bodily fluids and cells
Excretion
An organism must regulate its ionic balance and pH balance to maintain homeostasis in addition to their osmotic concentrations. Ions and metabolites are eliminated through the body's aqueous environment. As a result, water must be used in the elimination of waste, and therefore, water regulation and osmosis is closely tied with the maintenance of homeostasis.
Excretion: The elimination of waste products and foreign matters from the body
Cellular respiration produces, cells produce carbon dioxide which forms carbonic acid - along with other excess acids - which result in the dissociation of hydrogen ions. The build up of hydrogen ions in the body lowers the pH of the blood.
The acid-base balance of the blood is maintained by buffer systems that absorb excess hydrogen ions. In the human body, this buffer system is the carbonic acid/bicarbonate buffer. It work to eliminate excess hydrogen ions, therefore preventing a change in pH.
Excretion: The elimination of waste products and foreign matters from the body
Cellular respiration produces, cells produce carbon dioxide which forms carbonic acid - along with other excess acids - which result in the dissociation of hydrogen ions. The build up of hydrogen ions in the body lowers the pH of the blood.
The acid-base balance of the blood is maintained by buffer systems that absorb excess hydrogen ions. In the human body, this buffer system is the carbonic acid/bicarbonate buffer. It work to eliminate excess hydrogen ions, therefore preventing a change in pH.