Difference Between Endosmosis And Exosmosis

Endosmosis and Exosmosis are the two types of osmosis. The primary distinction between the two processes is that endosmosis involves the flow of water within the cell, whereas exosmosis involves the expulsion of water from it. In this context, the concepts of hypertonic, hypotonic, and isotonic solutions must be introduced. When a cell is immersed in a solvent with a greater solute concentration than the cell, the solution is said to be hypertonic to the cell, while the cell sap is hypotonic to the solvent. When the solvent and the cell sap have the same solute concentration, they are said to be isotonic.

Endosmosis occurs when cells are put in hypotonic solutions, causing the cells to expand. Exosmosis happens when cells are placed in hypertonic liquids, causing them to shrink. There is no exosmosis or endosmosis in isotonic liquids.

Difference between them in tabular format

What is Osmosis?

Osmosis is the movement of water molecules through a semipermeable membrane from a greater concentration of water to a lower concentration of water. The difference in water potential, which is a measure of the free energy and concentration of water in a system, drives this movement. Pure water has the maximum water potential, while the addition of solutes reduces it. As a result, during osmosis, water travels from regions with higher water potential to regions with lower water potential.

What is Endosomosis?

Endosmosis is a kind of osmosis in which the solvent flows towards the inner of a vessel or cell. When the water potential outside the cell is greater than the cytosol, the phenomenon occurs. As a result, the concentration of the solute in the fluid surrounding the cell is smaller than the concentration of the solute in the cytoplasm. In endosmosis, water molecules travel within the cell via the cell membrane (which is semi-permeable in nature), and cells expand as a result of the water entering them and making them turgid.

What is Exosmosis?

Exosmosis is a form of osmosis in which the direction of the water or solvent is outside of a vessel or cell. It occurs when the water potential outside the cell is smaller than the water potential inside the cell. As a result, the concentration of the solute in the solution surrounding the cell is larger than the concentration of the solute in the cytoplasm. During exocytosis, water molecules move out of the cell via the semipermeable cell membrane. As a result, the cells shrink, resulting in plasmolysis.

Relationship between Endosmosis and Exosmosis

Both plant and animal bodies are complex systems, and the more evolved the creature under investigation, the more complicated it becomes. In single-celled organisms, for example, all of the main biological and biochemical activities occur within the cell; but, in larger organisms with tissue or organ level structure, the element of communication among the cells plays a critical role. Osmosis and diffusion play critical roles in this respect, generating transport networks between cells that are required for the delivery of nutrients and oxygen to cells as well as the removal of harmful waste products from them.

Although the underlying notion of osmotic flow has existed since ancient times, it was not until 1748 that the French theologian and scientist Jean-Antoine Nollet was the first to publish the finding. René Joachim Henri Dutrochet, a French physician, coined the name from the terms 'endosmose' and 'exosmosis'. The migration of a solvent through a semipermeable membrane to an area of greater concentration of solute and lower concentration of solvent from a region of higher concentration of solvent and lower concentration of solute is characterized as osmosis or reverse diffusion. The solvent in biological systems is often water, although osmosis may occur for other liquids, supercritical liquids, and even gases provided the circumstances are favorable and a semipermeable membrane is available.

Conclusion

Exosmosis and endosmosis are two fundamental ways in which water moves through cell membranes. Exosmosis is the transfer of water from cells to the surrounding environment, whereas endosmosis is the transport of water into cells. Understanding these mechanisms allows us to better understand how cells adapt to various environmental situations and maintain water balance. Exosmosis and endosmosis contribute considerably to the general functioning and survival of biological systems by preserving cellular homeostasis.