Question about the difference of Hyperosmolar vs Hypertonic?

[natorx]

I don't really understand when to use these different terms. Hyperosmolar and Hypertonic seem to be the same?

They both have the higher concentration, or more solutes. As if you where to drop a cell into a hyper-osmotic solution would would expect water to rush into it, but what makes that different from a hypertonic?

Thank you in advance.

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[Blueprint MCAT Tutor]

Heya Natorx,

Yeah just treat them as the same. The MCAT isn't out to trick you on some weird, hyper-picky difference like that.

They've got lots of other ways to trick you

 

[loltopsy]

Tonicity refers to what the cell does in a certain environment. If the environment is hypertonic, the cell will shrink due to water leaving the cell. Hypotonic means water enters the cell and caused it to expand and possibly explode.

Osmolarity refers to the relative concentration of two solutions. If the outer environment is hyperosmotic, the concentration of solutes outside the cell is greater than the concentration inside the cell.

Tonicity and osmolarity generally will have the same prefix. However, there are some solutes that will act oddly and can create a situation where the system is hypertonic and isoosmotic. Just look at what the cell does and relative concentration of each solution, and you can figure it out.