Osmosis video - Osmoregulation

Osmoregulation is the process by which an organism regulates its internal body water-solute concentrations. It is a crucial aspect of maintaining the proper balance of water and electrolytes in the body, as electrolytes such as sodium, potassium, and chloride are dissolved in water, and a change in their concentrations can affect various physiological processes in the body. Solute concentrations are measured in osmolarity (mOsm/L), which is the number of osmoles within a liter of solution.

In humans, the osmolarity of blood plasma in the body is normally kept around 290 to 300 mOsm/L and is tightly controlled by antidiuretic hormone (ADH). With ADH secretion, the kidney increases the reabsorption of water back into circulation and causes vasoconstriction to bring up blood pressure. These pathways are controlled by negative feedback loops which inhibit further secretion of ADH.