Cell Function
osmoregulation
os·mo·reg·u·la·tion [ oz-moh-reg-yuh-ley-shuhn, os- ]
Subclass of:
Physiological Stress;
Homeostasis;
Metabolism
Definitions related to osmoregulation:
-
The response of cells in sensing a difference in OSMOTIC PRESSURE between the inside and outside of the cell. This response includes signaling from osmotic sensors to activate transcription factors, which in turn regulate the expression of osmocompensatory genes, all functioning to maintain CELL VOLUME and the water concentration inside the cells.NLM Medical Subject HeadingsU.S. National Library of Medicine, 2021
-
(response to osmotic stress) Any process that results in a change in state or activity of a cell or an organism (in terms of movement, secretion, enzyme production, gene expression, etc.) as a result of a stimulus indicating an increase or decrease in the concentration of solutes outside the organism or cell.Gene Ontology DictionaryGene Ontology Consortium, 2021
-
Osmoregulation, in biology, maintenance by an organism of an internal balance between water and dissolved materials regardless of environmental conditions. In many marine organisms osmosis (the passage of solvent through a semipermeable membrane) occurs without any need for regulatory mechanisms...Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc., 2020
Return to OpenMD Medical Dictionary
> O
This content should not be used in place of medically-reviewed decision support reference material or professional medical advice. Some terms may have alternate or updated definitions not reflected in this set. The definitions on this page should not be considered complete or up to date.