How do living organisms, such as plants and animals, use osmosis for various physiological processes?

Osmosis is the process by which water molecules move across a selectively permeable membrane from an area of high water concentration to an area of low water concentration. This process is important for many physiological processes in living organisms, including plants and animals.

In plants, osmosis plays a vital role in maintaining turgor pressure, which helps to support the plant and keep its cells rigid. When a plant cell is placed in a hypotonic solution (a solution with a lower concentration of solutes than the cell), water will move into the cell via osmosis. This influx of water creates turgor pressure, which helps to keep the cell rigid and maintain the structure of the plant.

In animals, osmosis plays a role in many physiological processes, including the regulation of fluid balance in the body. For example, when you drink a large amount of water, the excess water is absorbed into your bloodstream and then into your cells via osmosis. Your body then eliminates the excess water through urine, sweat, and other bodily fluids.

Osmosis also plays a role in the absorption of nutrients in the small intestine. The small intestine is lined with tiny finger-like projections called villi, which increase the surface area of the intestine and allow for more efficient absorption of nutrients. As nutrients pass through the intestinal wall, they are transported into the bloodstream via osmosis.