BALANCE IN ANIMALS【DOC精选】.docVIP

Chapter 38 WATER AND ELECTROLYTE BALANCE IN ANIMALS Maintaining water balance is an important element in homeostasis. The most abundant solutes in many animals are Na+, K+, Cl-, and Ca2+. These substances are called electrolytes because they become ionized when dissolved in water. Maintaining electrolyte balance is essential to survival. In humans, electrolyte imbalance can result in muscle spasm, confusion, irregular heart rhythms, fatigue, or even paralysis. OSMOTIC STRESS AND OSMOREGULATION Diffusion is the movement of solutes from the region of higher concentration to the region of lower concentration. Osmosis is the movement of water from the area of higher concentration to area of lower concentration. Osmolarity is the concentration of a substance expressed in moles per liter, mol/l. WATER BALANCE IN FRESHWATER, MARINE, AND TERRESTRIAL ENVIRONMENTS. The epithelial cells on the surface of the gills are exposed to the surrounding water. The exposed cell membranes are semipermeable. There is great difference between the concentration of solutes in the cell and outside the cell. In freshwater fish... The gill cells are hypertonic relative to the surrounding water, therefore, the cells gain water through osmosis. Cells and tissues that are gaining water are under osmotic stress. Osmotic stress means that the concentration of solutes in the cells and tissues is abnormal. The ability to achieve electrolyte balance is called osmoregulation. Freshwater fish excrete large amounts of water in the urine and do not drink water. In saltwater fish... The cells are hypotonic relative to the surrounding seawater. Water tends to flow out of the gill cells. The cells run the risk of plasmolysis, which is shriveling and dying. Saltwater fish secrete large amounts of salt and drink lots of water. Land animals... Land animals constantly lose water to the environment through evaporation. Gas exchange occurs through the wet s