Crenation is the shriveling of a cell that lacks a cell wall when placed in a hypertonic environment. As the cell becomes dehydrated from water moving out, its plasma membrane contracts and takes on a scalloped or notched appearance.

Crenation

Plasmolysis occurs in cells that possess a cell wall when they are placed in a hypertonic environment. During this process, the plasma membrane contracts and detaches from the cell wall, leading to a decrease in interior volume. However, the cell wall remains intact, allowing the cell to maintain some shape and integrity for a period of time before potentially dying.

Plasmolysis

A hypertonic solution has a higher solute concentration than another solution, such as the inside of a cell, causing water particles to diffuse out of the cell into the external environment. For instance, if a cell with $${}20\%$$ solute and $${}80\%$$ water is placed in a beaker containing $${}40\%$$ solute and $${}60\%$$ water, water will exit the cell, which can lead to crenation in cells lacking a cell wall.

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The external environment of a cell can be classified as an isotonic, hypertonic, or hypotonic medium. These environments determine the direction of water movement across the cell membrane via osmosis.

External Cellular Environments Affecting Osmosis

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An isotonic solution has the same solute concentration as another solution, resulting in no net movement of water particles and a constant overall concentration on both sides of the cell membrane. For example, a cell with $${}20\%$$ solute and $${}80\%$$ water in a beaker with $${}20\%$$ solute and $${}80\%$$ water will experience equal rates of water moving into and out of the cell.

Isotonic Medium

Hypertonic Medium

A hypotonic solution has a lower solute concentration than another solution, such as the interior of a cell, causing water particles to move into the cell via osmosis. For example, if a cell with $${}20\%$$ solute and $${}80\%$$ water is placed in a beaker containing $${}10\%$$ solute and $${}90\%$$ water, water will enter the cell, causing it to swell and potentially lyse, or burst.

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