The terms "hypertonic" and "hypotonic" refer to the concentration of solutes in a solution compared to another solution, typically in the context of cellular environments.
-
Hypertonic Environment:
- A hypertonic solution has a higher concentration of solutes compared to the inside of a cell.
- When a cell is placed in a hypertonic solution, water moves out of the cell to balance the solute concentrations on both sides of the cell membrane.
- This can lead to cell shrinkage or crenation as the cell loses water.
-
Hypotonic Environment:
- A hypotonic solution has a lower concentration of solutes compared to the inside of a cell.
- When a cell is placed in a hypotonic solution, water moves into the cell, again to balance the solute concentrations.
- This influx of water can cause the cell to swell and potentially burst, a process known as lysis.
In summary, the key difference between hypertonic and hypotonic environments lies in the concentration of solutes: hypertonic solutions have more solutes outside the cell, leading to water moving out of the cell, while hypotonic solutions have fewer solutes outside, causing water to move into the cell.