osmoreceptors
What osmoreceptors means in Biology A-Level, as defined for AQA, OCR.
Definitions of osmoreceptors
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Reference: AQA
Cells in the hypothalamus that monitor water potential; when blood water potential falls, water leaves them by osmosis and they shrink, triggering ADH release.
Structures in the hypothalamus that detect changes in blood water potential; they shrink when water potential falls and stimulate the posterior pituitary.
Topics that use osmoreceptors
- Control of blood water potential (A-level only) (AQA A-Level)
- Excretion as an example of homeostatic control (OCR A-Level)
Related terms
- Aquaporins
- Osmoregulation
- ADH
- Blood markers of kidney function
- Deamination and urea
- Dialysis versus transplant as treatments
- Excretion
- Filtration and reabsorption in the nephron
Using osmoreceptors in the exam
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