Examples of osmosis
Both animal cells and plant cells lose and gain water by osmosis.
Within the body, osmosis is very important. If we are dehydrated and then drink a lot of water, our cells gain water through osmosis and recover their salt-water equilibrium. Water moves from an area of high concentration (outside the cell), through the cell membrane to an area of low concentration (inside the cell).
Plants rely on osmosis to take in water through their root hair cells. These cells have a large surface area, perfect for the efficient absorption of water and minerals. After a plant has been watered, the water is absorbed, moving from an area of high concentration (the soil) to an area of low concentration (the root hair cells) before being transported to the rest of the plant.
