What is the effect of a hypertonic solution on cells in urine?

When cells are placed in a hypertonic solution, the concentration of solutes outside the cells is higher than inside. This difference in solute concentration creates an osmotic gradient that causes water to move out of the cells in an attempt to equalize the solute concentrations. As water exits the cells, they lose volume and begin to shrink, a process known as crenation.

This effect is particularly important in the context of urine analysis, as the concentration of urine can vary significantly, leading to potentially hypertonic conditions for red blood cells and other cellular components present. Therefore, when cells are exposed to such hypertonic urine, they experience dehydration, resulting in the characteristic appearance of shrinkage and scalloping at their edges, known as crenated cells. Understanding this principle is crucial in urine and body fluid analysis, as it can impact the interpretation of findings such as cellular morphology.