Osmosis Flashcards
Drinking too much plain water in a short period of time can result in water intoxication. As a result, blood plasma will become hypotonic. What effect do you think this would have on blood cells?
Cells may be lysed.
Hypotonic solutions have a higher water concentration than the cell, meaning water will move into the cell by osmosis. This will rupture the plasma membrane
Receptor-mediated endocytosis is used to remove low-density lipoproteins (LDLs) from the blood. What effect would defective LDL receptors have on a patient’s cholesterol levels and overall risk for heart disease?
Patients would have very high LDL levels and a high risk of heart disease.
Receptors are required for cells to endocytose the LDLs from the blood. Without these receptors, the LDLs remain in the bloodstream and can contribute to heart disease.
