Biology / Unit 2 Bio 0354 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Osmotic Lysis and Crenation
Captions available
The idea
A cell swelling past its membrane's capacity will lyse, or burst; one losing too much water will crenate, or shrink and shrivel.
In practice
A red blood cell in pure water lyses within moments; one in a concentrated salt solution crenates instead.
Where people slip
A mistakenly hypotonic or hypertonic IV solution can lyse or crenate blood cells by this mechanism.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
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