Why do horses need...?

[PinkFairy]

Osmosis??

 

[spaniel]

er....the same reason any other living thing does....do you own homework!!

 

[PinkFairy]

Lol, im confused because we have been doing an osmosis test on potato cylinders and then it was all about concentration of water and then i was talking to someone today and they said horses need it to i got confused!

 

[spaniel]

Forget 'horse' and just think about cells, structure and function....

 

[gina2201]

Cells need to exchange "stuff" through osmosis, read up on it!!

 

[spaniel]

[ QUOTE ]
Cells need to exchange "stuff" through osmosis, read up on it!!

[/ QUOTE ]

I presume that was directed at the OP and not me?

 

[PinkFairy]

I am reading up, i was just wondering what its for. Its to do with concentration of water and making it balanced in the cells, from what i am reading.

 

[gina2201]

ha ha yeah, was just agreeing with you!

I did do a year of Equine Science but cant be bothered to rack my brains at the mo....sorry..!

Going out for a meal in half hour so should really be getting ready!
Good luck!

 

[PinkFairy]

but what i don't understand is why it needs to be balanced. I never was a whizz at science!

 

[lizzie_liz]

osmosis is needed to maintain cell structure, too little water and they will shrink and too much water then the cells will burst and then the tissues and thus the organism can not function effectively.

 

[sunflower]

If there's a difference in the osmotic potential either side of the cell membrane then water will diffuse in or out until it is equal. If water moves out of the cell it increases the concentration of electrolytes in the cell which can affect its function. If water moves into the cell it can burst.

 

[PinkFairy]

Ok. Thank you so much, i didn't actually realise the process or anything of osmosis, i didn't understand it etc. But thanks (again) HHO is invaluable!

 

[ThomasTank]

Blimey..... Im lost !!

 

[WelshRareBit]

osmosis, wasnt that a word on fat people cant hunt last night?....