GENERAL HISTOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Osmosis is a special type of diffusion, namely the diffusion of water across a semipermeable membrane. Water readily crosses a membrane down its potential gradient from high to low potential (Fig. 19.3) [4]. Osmotic pressure is the force required to prevent water movement across the semipermeable membrane.

Detailed explanation-2: -Osmosis is the diffusion of water through a semipermeable membrane according to the concentration gradient of water across the membrane. Whereas diffusion transports material across membranes and within cells, osmosis transports only water across a membrane and the membrane limits the diffusion of solutes in the water.

Detailed explanation-3: -Osmosis is the result of diffusion across a semipermeable membrane. If two solutions of different concentration are separated by a semipermeable membrane, then the solvent will tend to diffuse across the membrane from the less concentrated to the more concentrated solution. This process is called osmosis.

Detailed explanation-4: -Semipermeable membranes are used for reverse osmosis where an applied pressure selectively forces water from a solution through the membrane to separate it from solute. Strong synthetic membranes are required for effective, i.e., high pressure, purification.

Detailed explanation-5: -Osmosis is the movement of solvent particles from a solution that is diluted to a more concentrated one. In contrast, diffusion is the movement of particles from a higher concentration region to a region of lower concentration.