Plasmolysis vs. Cytolysis

Plasmolysisnoun

(biology) the shrinking of protoplasm away from the cell wall of a plant or bacterium due to water loss

Plasmolysis

Plasmolysis is the process in which cells lose water in a hypertonic solution. The reverse process, deplasmolysis or cytolysis, can occur if the cell is in a hypotonic solution resulting in a lower external osmotic pressure and a net flow of water into the cell.

Cytolysisnoun

The pathological breakdown of a cell due to the bursting of the cell membrane caused by osmosis

Cytolysisnoun

pathological breakdown of cells by the destruction of their outer membrane

Cytolysis

Cytolysis, or osmotic lysis, occurs when a cell bursts due to an osmotic imbalance that has caused excess water to diffuse into the cell. Water can enter the cell by diffusion through the cell membrane or through selective membrane channels called aquaporins, which greatly facilitate the flow of water.