Question

Explain the process of osmoregulation.

Answer 1

Homeostasis:

Any self-regulating process through which an organism maintains stability while responding to conditions ideal for its survival is known as homeostasis.

Osmoregulation:

The process of maintaining salt and water balance (osmotic equilibrium) across membranes in the body is known as osmoregulation. Water, electrolytes, and non-electrolytes make up the fluids inside and around cells.

Osmoregulation is a homeostatic mechanism that mainly balances the concentration of water and salt across the human body in the following ways:

• If the salt concentration is high and that of water is low in the body, the urine formed is hypertonic. This results in the prevention of any further loss of water.
• On the other hand, if the concentration of water is high and the concentration of electrolytes and salts is low, the urine formed is hypotonic. This results in the expulsion of excess amount of water present in the body.

Hence, the kidneys help maintain the electrolytic and the water balance of the body through osmoregulation.