Medical physiology

Osmosis

Bojana Stojadinović
Department of Biophysics

bojana.stojadinovic@med.bg.ac.rs
 Solution
Solvent is the liquid
into which the solute is
poured and dissolved.
We will use water as
our solvent
Solute is today that
substance
is dissolved or put into
the solvent

Solutions are made of

solute and a solvent
 Diffusion
Diffusion is the movement of molecules or atoms from a
high concentration region to a low concentration region
until the concentration is equalized.
Diffusion is driven by a gradient of concentration.
Diffusion

-
water
- solute
 Osmosis

-
water
- solute

Osmosis is the diffusion of

water through a selectively
permeable membrane to the
side which has the higher
the concentration of the
non diffusible substance
 Osmolarity
It describes concentration via number of particles of the solute

If the solute does not dissociate ions osmolarity is equal to the concentration of the solution.
Such a solution of concentration 1 mol / l has the osmolarity of 1 osmol / l.
If the solute dissociates into n ions osmolarity is equal to n times the concetration of the
solution. Such a solution of concentration 1 mol / l has the osmolarity of n osmoles / l.
If several pure substances are dissolved in water, their osmolarities are added
 Osmolarity
Osmolarity is the property of the
solution
Iso-osmotic – solutions of equal
osmolarity
Hyper-osmotic solution is the solution of
higher osmolarity
Hypo-osmotic solution is the solution of
lower osmolarity
 Osmolarity
Problem 1

What is the total osmolarity of the

solution in which there is 100 mmol/l
sodium chloride and 100 mmol/l of
glucose?
 Osmolarity
Solution 1

mmol mmol
c = 2 ⋅100 + 1 ⋅100 =
l l
mOsm mOsm mOsm
= 200 + 100 = 300
l l l
 Osmolarity
Problem 2

What is the total osmolarity of the

solution in which there is 250 mmol/l
sodium chloride and 150 mmol/l sodium
sulfate?
 Osmolarity
Solution 2

mmol mmol
c = 2 ⋅ 250 + 3 ⋅150 =
l l
mOsm mOsm mOsm
= 500 + 450 = 950
l l l
 Osmotic pressure
Osmotic pressure is the pressure that
needs to be applied in order to stop
the osmosis
direction of the pressure that
stops the osmosis is the
same as direction of
movement of water

-
water
- solute
 Osmotic pressure
It can easily be measured

-
water
h - solute

Hydrostatic p = ρ ⋅ g ⋅h
pressure
Osmotic pressure
Osmosis is the diffusion of water, and
pressure which stops the diffusion should
be proportional to the rate of diffusion of
water
The diffusion rate of water depends on the
water concentration differences on the
sides of the membrane
The difference in the concentrations of the
water depends on concentration of the
dissolved substance in terms of number of
particles
Thus the osmotic pressure of the solution
depends on the osmolarity
 Osmotic pressure
The osmotic pressure can be determined from the

π = C ⋅ R ⋅T
c - osmolarity of the non-diffusible solute
(expressed in osm / l),
R – constant (gas constant),
T - temperature

An ideal and ideally diluted solution behaves like

an ideal gas whose concentration is equal to the
osmolarity of the solution, and which would take
the same volume at the same temperature
 Osmotic pressure

π = C ⋅ R ⋅T

π (mmHg) = 19,3 ∙ c (mOsm/l)

 Osmotic pressure
TOTAL THEORETICAL OSMOTIC
PRESSURE
π (mmHg) = 19,3 ∙ c (mOsm/l)
Is the value of the osmotic pressure that would be
obtained on a membrane if it was completely
impervious to all particles
– c is then the osmolarity of the solution

Percentage of imperviousness of a membrane

σ
for some kind of the particles is characterized by
osmotic reflection coefficient
 Osmotic pressure
Osmotic reflection coefficient

σ= 0<σ< σ=
1 1 0
if they do not passat if they partly if they pass free
allimpermeability as water
pass
100% impermeability 0%
 Osmotic pressure
THE EFFECTIVE OSMOTIC PRESSURE
(osmotic pressure)
is the real value of the osmotic pressure
that exists on a membrane
it is obtained by adding the pressure of all
particles retained on one side of the
membrane:
π = σ 1 RTc1 + σ 2 RTc2 + ...
π (mmHg ) = 19,3σ 1c1 (mosm / l ) + 19,3σ 2 c2 (mosm / l ) + ...
 Problem 3

100 mmol/l 100 mmol/l

2 ions no
σ=1 dissociation
σ=0

In the inner vessel at the bottom of which is the

membrane is the solution that has concentration of 100 m
mol/l of "stars"
(σ = 1) which dissociate into 2 ions and 100 m mol/l of
"triangles" (σ = 0) which is not dissociated to ions. What is
the osmotic pressure of a solution at the membrane on
the inside of the vessel?
 Solution 3

100 mmol/l 100 mmol/l

2 ions no
σ=1 dissociation
σ=0

π = σ 1 RTc1 + σ 2 RTc2 + ...

mOsm mOsm
π = 1 ⋅19,3 ⋅ 200 + 0 ⋅19,3 ⋅100 = 3860mmHg
l l
 Problem 4

30 mmol/l 50 mmol/l
3 ions no
σ=1 dissociation
σ=0

In the inner vessel at the bottom of which is the

membrane is
30 mmol/l of the substance that dissociates to 3 ions and
which has σ = 1, and 50 m mol/l of a substance that does
not dissociate to ions and which has σ = 0. What is the
osmolarity and what is the osmotic pressure of the
solution in the inner vessel at the membrane?
 Solution 4

30 mmol/l 50 mmol/l
3 ions no
σ=1 dissociation
σ=0
mmol mmol mOsm mOsm mOsm
c = 3 ⋅ 30 + 1 ⋅ 50 = 90 + 50 = 140
l l l l l

π = σ 1 RTc1 + σ 2 RTc2 + ...

mOsm mOsm
π = 1 ⋅19,3 ⋅ 90 + 0 ⋅19,3 ⋅ 50 = 1737 mmHg
l l
 Problem 5

50 mmol/l 50 mmol/l
3 ions 2 ions
σ σ

In the inner vessel at the bottom of which is the

membrane is
50 mmol/l of "stars" which dissociate into 3 ions and 50
mmol/l of balls which dissociate into 2 ions. Measured
osmotic pressure is 2 000 mmHg. Which substance has σ =
0 and which has σ = 1?
 Solution 5

mmol mOsm 50mmol/l 50 mmol/l

c1 = 3 ⋅ 50 = 150 3 ions 2 ions
l l σ=1 σ=0

mmol mOsm
c2 = 2 ⋅ 50 = 100
l l

π = σ 1 RTc1 + σ 2 RTc2 + ...

mOsm mOsm
2000mmHg = 20 ⋅150 ⋅ σ 1 + 20 ⋅100 ⋅σ 2
l l
mOsm mOsm
2000mmHg = σ 1 ⋅ 3000 + σ 2 ⋅ 2000
l l

σ1 = 0 , σ 2 = 1
 Problem 6

0 mmHg
3000
50 mmol/l 100 mmol/l mmHg
3 ions 2 ions 4000
σ σ mmHg
7000
mmHg
In the inner vessel at the bottom of which is the membrane
is
50 mmol/l of "stars" which dissociate into 3 ions and 100
mmol/l of balls which dissociate into 2 ions. Measured
osmotic pressure is: a) 0 mm Hg, b) 3000 mm Hg, c) 4000
mmHg, d) 7 000 mmHg. If the values of σ are only 0 or 1,
which substance in each of these four cases passes and
which does not pass through the membrane?
 Solution 6
mmol mOsm 50mmol/l 100mmol/l
c1 = 3 ⋅ 50 = 150
l l 3 ions 2 ions
mmol mOsm σ=1 σ=0
c2 = 2 ⋅100 = 200
l l

π = σ 1 RTc1 + σ 2 RTc2 + ...

a mOsm mOsm σ1 = 0 , σ 2 = 0
0mmHg = 20 ⋅150 ⋅ σ 1 + 20 ⋅ 200 ⋅σ 2
) l l
mOsm mOsm
b 3000mmHg = 3000 ⋅ σ 1 + 4000 ⋅σ 2 σ1 = 1 , σ 2 = 0
) l l
c 4000mmHg = 3000 mOsm ⋅ σ 1 + 4000 mOsm ⋅ σ 2 σ1 = 0 , σ 2 = 1
) l l
d 7000mmHg = 3000 mOsm ⋅ σ 1 + 4000 mOsm ⋅ σ 2 σ1 = 1 , σ 2 = 1
) l l
Osmosis through a membrane
The osmotic pressure of the cell
membrane and of the capillary membrane

Osmotic pressure depends on the

osmolarity of the solution
the permeability of the membrane for
the solute
Osmosis through a
membrane
All three sections of body fluids: an
extracellular, interstitial fluid and blood
plasma have the osmolarity of about 300
mOsm / l
Principles of
electroneutrality
and
equiosmolarity
apply for all
sections
Osmosis through a membrane
The total and effective osmotic pressure of
the cell membrane
for the bodily fluids c = 300 mOsm / l, and the
total theoretical osmotic pressure is 5790 mm ​
Hg. (when the membrane is permeable to
water, and completely impermeable to all
other molecules)
When osmolarity is adjusted to 280 mosm / l,
effective osmotic pressure is 5400 mmHg

π = ∑i σ i RTΔci = σ 1 RTc1 + σ 2 RTc2 + ...

Osmosis through a membrane
Tonicity of the solution

Comparison of the
osmotic pressures of
two solutions
separated by a
membrane
Isotonic – have the
same osmotic
pressure
Hypertonic – has a
higher osmotic
pressure
Hypotonic – has a
lower osmotic
pressure
 Osmosis through a membrane
The direction of water movement in
osmosis
From the solution of less
concentration to a solution
of higher concentration
From a solution of lower to
a solution of higher osmotic
pressure
From hypotonic to a
hypertonic solution
 Problem 7

50 mmol/l 100 mmol/l

3 ions no
σ = 0,5 dissociation
σ=1
On the left side of the membrane is 50 mmol/l of the
substance that dissociates into 3 ions and which has σ =
0.5. On the right side of the membrane is 100 mmol/l of
the substance that does not dissociate to ions and which
has σ = 1. On which side is the hypertonic solution?
 Solution 7

mmol mOsm 50mmol/l 50 mmol/l

c1 = 3 ⋅ 50 = 150 3 ions no
l l σ = 0,5 dissociation
σ=1
mmol mOsm
c2 = 1 ⋅ 50 = 50
l l

π = σ 1 RTc1 + σ 2 RTc2 + ...

mOsm
π 1 = 20 ⋅150 ⋅ 0,5 = 1500mmHg
l
mOsm
π 2 = 20 ⋅ 50 ⋅1 = 1000mmHg
l
π1 > π 2
Hypertonic solution is the left
side.
 Diffusion through a capillary
membrane
Capillary membrane
Separates interstitial fluid and blood plasma
Thickness: 0.5 μm, area: 500 – 700 m2
 Diffusion through a capillary
membrane
Pressures on the capillary membrane

Colloid osmotic pressure (oncotic pressure)

Composition of plasma and interstitial fluid is similar, only

plasma has higher protein concentration (and a little lower
Na+ and K+ concentration)
Osmotic pressure due to plasma protein is called colloid
osmotic pressure or oncotic pressure
Due to higher concentration of protein in plasma, colloid
osmotic pressure of plasma (πpl) is always higher than that
of interstitial fluid (πis)
 Diffusion through a capillary
membrane
Diffusion through capillary membrane
The cause of diffusion is the pressure difference between
interstitial fluid and plasma

Filtration – diffusion occurs from capillary to interstitial fluid when

pressure in plasma is higher than that of the interstitial fluid
Reabsorption - diffusion occurs from interstitial fluid to the
capillary when pressure in plasma is lower than that of the
interstitial fluid
 Diffusion through a capillary
membrane
Pressures on the capillary membrane
Plasma hydrostatic pressure (Ppl)
Interstitial hydrostatic pressure (Pis)
Plasma oncotic pressure (πpl)
Interstitial oncotic pressure (πis)

Pp πpl
l

Pi πis
s
 Diffusion through a capillary
membrane
Pressures on the capillary membrane
Approximate values for oncotic pressures

Blood plasma πpl = 28 mmHg

Interstitial fluid πis = 8 mmHg
Overall effect of these pressures is the pressure of around 20 mmHg
that tends to drive the liquid out of the interstitial space and in to
the capillary

πpl
2 2
8 8 πis 0
 Diffusion through a capillary
membrane
Filtration (arterial end of the capillary)
Plasma oncotic pressure is πpl = 28 mmHg
Interstitial oncotic pressure is πis = 8 mmHg
Blood flow through capillary on the arterial end creates a pressure of Ppl = 30
mmHg
Interstitial pressure is Pis = -3 mmHg

Pp 3 31 2 πpl
l
0 8 8
Pi - 3
2 8 πis
s
 Diffusion through a capillary
membrane
Reabsorption (venous end of the capillary)
Plasma oncotic pressure is πpl = 28 mmHg
Interstitial oncotic pressure is πis = 8 mmHg
Blood flow through capillary on the venous end creates a pressure of Ppl = 10
mmHg
Interstitial pressure is Pis = -3 mmHg

Pp 1 1 2 πpl
l
0 8 8
Pi - 72 8 πis
s
 Diffusion through a capillary
membrane
Filtration and Reabsorption

Filtration on the arterial end

of the capillary P = 13 mmHg
Reabsorption on the venous
end of the capillary P = 7
mmHg
Venous capillaries are more
numerous and more
permeable than arterial and
the smaller pressure is
enough for reabsorption in
comparison to filtration
 Problem
Ppl = 20 mmHg
Pis = -2 mmHg
πpl = 28 mmHg
πis = 7 mmHg
Is there filtration or reabsorption and how much is pressure?

Filtration,
1mmHg
20 27 28
1

-2 26 7
 Zadatak
Ppl = 12 mmHg
Pis = -2 mmHg
πpl = 27 mmHg
πis = 7 mmHg
Is there filtration or reabsorption and how much is pressure?

Reabsorption,
6mmHg
12 19 27

-2 625 7