Explain why osmoregulation and osmotic balance are important body functions

Osmoregulation and osmotic balance are important bodily functions, resulting in water and salt balance. This regulation equalizes the number of solute molecules across a semi-permeable membrane by the movement of water to the side of higher solute concentration.

What You’ll Learn to Do

• Explain why osmoregulation and osmotic balance are important body functions
• Explain osmolarity and the way in which it is measured
• Describe osmoregulators or osmoconformers and how these tools allow animals to adapt to different environments
• Explain how hormonal cues help the kidneys synchronize the osmotic needs of the body

Learning Activities

The learning activities for this section include the following:

• Need for Osmoregulation
• Osmolality and Milliequivalent
• Osmoregulators and Osmoconformers
• Hormonal Cues
• Self Check: Osmoregulation and Osmotic Balance