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Q8:
What is meant by the term osmoregulation?
Solution :
Definition of Osmoregulation
Osmoregulation is the physiological process by which an organism maintains the homeostasis of its internal water content and electrolyte concentration [Per the principle of biological homeostasis]. It involves the active regulation of the osmotic pressure of an organism's fluids to ensure that the water potential inside cells remains within a range conducive to metabolic survival, regardless of the tonicity of the external environment.
Mechanism of Osmoregulation
The process functions by balancing the uptake and loss of water and solutes. This is achieved through the following mechanisms:
- Solute Regulation: Maintaining the concentration of ions such as $Na^+$, $K^+$, $Cl^-$, and $Ca^{2+}$ in the interstitial fluid.
- Water Balance: Counteracting dehydration or over-hydration by modulating the permeability of nephric membranes to water via hormonal control [Specifically the action of Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH) or Vasopressin].
- Excretory Coupling: The integration of excretory systems (kidneys in vertebrates, Malpighian tubules in insects) to filter metabolic waste while reclaiming essential water and electrolytes.
Diagrammatic Representation of Osmotic Balance
Comparative Osmoregulatory Strategies
| Strategy | Definition | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Osmoconformers | Internal osmolarity is isosmotic with the environment. | Marine Invertebrates |
| Osmoregulators | Internal osmolarity is kept constant regardless of external changes. | Freshwater Fish, Mammals |
Biological Significance
Failure in osmoregulation leads to pathological states such as cellular crenation (in hypertonic environments) or cellular lysis (in hypotonic environments). By utilizing the Counter-Current Multiplier System in the Loop of Henle, the kidney effectively creates an osmotic gradient in the renal medulla, allowing for the reabsorption of water, thereby conserving bodily fluids [Ref: Physiological Principle of Passive and Active Transport].
Final Solution: Osmoregulation is the active process of maintaining a constant osmotic pressure in the fluids of an organism by the control of water and salt concentrations, ensuring physiological homeostasis despite fluctuations in the external environment.
More Questions from Class 11 Biology Excretory Products and Elimination EXERCISES
- Q1: Define Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR)
- Q2: Explain the autoregulatory mechanism of GFR.
- Q3(a): Indicate whether the following statements are true or false : (a) Micturition is carried out by a reflex.
- Q3(b): Indicate whether the following statements are true or false : (b) ADH helps in water elimination, making the urine hypotonic.
- Q3(c): Indicate whether the following statements are true or false : (c) Protein-free fluid is filtered from blood plasma into the Bowman’s capsule.
- Q3(d): Indicate whether the following statements are true or false : (d) Henle’s loop plays an important role in concentrating the urine.
- Q3(e): Indicate whether the following statements are true or false : (e) Glucose is actively reabsorbed in the proximal convoluted tubule.
- Q4: Give a brief account of the counter current mechanism.
- Q5: Describe the role of liver, lungs and skin in excretion.
- Q6: Explain micturition.
- Q7: Match the items of column I with those of column II : Column I Column II (a) Ammonotelism (i) Birds (b) Bowman’s capsule (ii) Water reabsorption (c) Micturition (iii) Bony fish (d) Uricotelism (iv) Urinary bladder (e) ADH (v) Renal tubule
- Q9: Terrestrial animals are generally either ureotelic or uricotelic, not ammonotelic, why ?
- Q10: What is the significance of juxta glomerular apparatus (JGA) in kidney function?
- Q11(a): Name the following: (a) A chordate animal having flame cells as excretory structures
- Q11(b): Name the following: (b) Cortical portions projecting between the medullary pyramids in the human kidney
- Q11(c): Name the following: (c) A loop of capillary running parallel to the Henle’s loop.
- Q12(a): Fill in the gaps : (a) Ascending limb of Henle’s loop is _______ to water whereas the descending limb is _______ to it.
- Q12(b): Fill in the gaps : (b) Reabsorption of water from distal parts of the tubules is facilitated by hormone _______.
- Q12(c): Fill in the gaps : (c) Dialysis fluid contain all the constituents as in plasma except _______.
- Q12(d): Fill in the gaps : (d) A healthy adult human excretes (on an average) _______ gm of urea/day.
CBSE Solutions for Class 11 Biology Excretory Products and Elimination
Chapters in CBSE - Class 11 Biology
- The Living World
- Biological Classification
- Plant Kingdom
- Animal Kingdom
- Morphology of Flowering Plants
- Anatomy of Flowering Plants
- Structural Organisation in Animals
- Cell – The Unit of Life
- Biomolecules
- Cell Cycle and Division
- Transport in Plants
- Mineral Nutrition
- Photosynthesis
- Respiration in Plants
- Plant Growth and Development
- Digestion and Absorption
- Breathing and Exchange of Gases
- Body Fluids and Circulation
- Locomotion and Movement
- Neural Control and Coordination
- Chemical Coordination and Integration
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