The plant and the animal bodies both are complex systems, and the more developed the organism of study, the more its complexity increases. For example, in single-celled organisms, all the important biological and biochemical processes take place in the cell, however, in higher organisms with tissue or organ level organization, the aspect of communication within the cells has a very important role. The processes of osmosis and diffusion play a pivotal function in this regard, establishing transport systems across cells, which is necessary for the distribution of nutrients and oxygen to the cells and the elimination of toxic waste products from them.

Even though a basic concept of osmotic flow has been in existence since ancient times, it was in 1748 when the French clergyman and physicist, Jean-Antoine Nollet, was the first to document the observation. The term was established by René Joachim Henri Dutrochet, a French physician, from the words ‘endosmose’ and ‘exosmosis’. The process of osmosis or reverse diffusion can be defined as the movement of a solvent across a semipermeable membrane to a region of higher concentration of solute and a lower concentration of solvent from a region of higher concentration of solvent and a lower concentration of solute. In biological systems, the solvent is usually water, but osmosis can take place for other liquids, supercritical liquids, and even gases if the conditions are right and a semipermeable membrane is present.

Exosmosis and Endosmosis

There are two different kinds of osmosis- endosmosis and exosmosis. The key difference between the two processes is that in endosmosis the movement of water inside the cell while in the case of exosmosis the elimination of water out of it. In this regard, we must introduce the concept of hypertonic, hypotonic and isotonic solutions. If a cell is placed in a solvent with a solute concentration higher than that in the cell then the solution is called hypertonic to the cell and the cell sap is hypotonic to the solvent. If the solvent and the cell sap have the same solute concentration, they are termed as isotonic to each other. Endosmosis takes place if the cells are placed in hypotonic solutions because of which, the cells may swell because of endosmosis. Exosmosis occurs if the cells are in hypertonic solutions due to which the cells shrink. In isotonic solutions, no exosmosis or endosmosis takes place.

Fate of RBCs when placed in Hypotonic, Hypertonic, and Isotonic Solutions

Endosmosis: Endosmosis can be defined as a type of osmosis in which the flow of the solvent is towards the inside of a vessel or cell. The phenomenon takes place when the water potential in the outside of the cell is higher than in the cytosol. Therefore, the concentration of the solute in the solution surrounding the cell is less than the solute concentration in the cytoplasm. Molecules of water move inside the cell via the cell membrane (which is semipermeable in nature) in endosmosis and cells are swelled up because of the water entering into them and causing it to become turgid. An example of endosmosis occurring in nature can be given when the absorption of capillary water by roots from the soil takes place in plants and the water enters the xylem.

Exosmosis: The process of exosmosis denotes the type of osmosis where the direction of the water or solvent is outside of a vessel or cell. It takes place if the water potential in the outside of the cell is lesser than inside the cells. Hence, the concentration of the solute in the solution surrounding the cell is greater than the solute concentration in the cytoplasm. The molecules of water flow outwards from the cell through the semipermeable cell membrane during exocytosis. Because of this, the cells shrink causing plasmolysis.

Differences Between Exosmosis and Endosmosis

Points of Difference	Exosmosis	Endosmosis
The direction of solvent movement	The water or the solvent flows out of the cells.	The water or the solvent moves inside the cells.
Solute Concentration	Solute concentration is more in the surroundings than in the cells.	Solute concentration is more in the cells than in the surroundings.
Water potential	Water potential in the cytosol is higher.	Water potential is higher in the solvent outside the cells.
The ultimate fate of the cells	Cells shrinks for the loss of water.	Cells swell up and can burst if kept for long.
Examples	Transfer of water from the root hair to the root cortical cells exemplifies exosmosis.	The movement of water from the root to the xylem vessels of the plant exemplifies endosmosis.

Exosmosis can be said as the osmosis toward the outside of a cell or vessel. It happens when the water potential of the cell surrounding is lesser than inside the cells. The solute concentration of the surrounding solution is higher than that inside the cytoplasm and these types of solution are called hypertonic solutions. Water molecules move out of the cell across the cell membrane in exosmosis. We can conclude that both endosmosis and exosmosis are two types of osmosis as the water molecules move across the cell membrane in both endosmosis and exosmosis.

Endosmosis and exosmosis are the two types of osmosis in which the movement of water occurs across the cell membrane. Endosmosis is the movement of water into the cell when the cells are placed in a hypotonic solution and the Exosmosis is the movement of water out of the cell when the cells are placed in a hypotonic solution. The main difference between endosmosis and exosmosis is the direction of the movement of water in each of the processes.

Osmosis is known as the passive diffusion mechanism used by cells to pass water molecules across the cell membrane. One of the main differences between endosmosis and exosmosis is that endosmosis is the movement of water into the cell whereas exosmosis is the movement of water out of the cell. Endosmosis usually occurs when cells are placed in hypotonic solutions. Endosmosis results in the swelling of the cells. Exosmosis occurs when cells are placed in hypertonic solutions and results in the shrinking of cells in exosmosis. Isotonic solutions contain similar water potential to the cytoplasm and hence, neither endosmosis nor exosmosis occurs in these solutions.

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FAQs on Differences Between Exosmosis and Endosmosis

1. What are the conditions required for endosmosis and exosmosis?

For exosmosis(movement of water out of the cell), hypertonic solution is required. It occurs when the cell is hypertonic and has higher potential inside the cell, needs lower solvent concentration outside the cell. For endosmosis(movement of water into the cell), hypotonic solution is required.It occurs when the cell is hypotonic and has lower potential inside the cell, needs higher solvent concentration outside the cell.

2. What are the three kinds of solutions?

Hypertonic solution: A solution is hypertonic if the solution concentration is lower than inside the cell. Water moves outside the cell.

Hypotonic solution: A solution is hypotonic if the solute concentration is higher than inside the cell. Water moves inside the cell.

Isotonic solution: A solution is isotonic if the solute concentration is the same as inside the cell.

3.What is endosmosis and exosmosis?

Endosmosis - It is the movement of water molecules inside the cell through a semipermeable membrane when the cell is in hypotonic solution. Endosmosis causes the cell to expand.

Exosmosis - It is the movement of water molecules outside the cell through a semipermeable membrane when the cell is in hypertonic solution. Exosmosis causes the cell to shrink.

4. What is osmosis?

Osmosis is the movement of water molecules from higher to lower concentration through a semipermeable membrane. It plays an important role in transport of water in plants. If the outside the cell has high concentration of water than inside the cell, then water moves inside the cell. If outside the cell has lower concentration of water than inside the cell,then water moves outside the cell. Osmosis is of two types-endosmosis and exosmosis.

5. Where students can find the best material for exosmosis and endosmosis?

Vedantu is the best resource for endosmosis and exosmosis material as it explains about each of them concepts and their differences. This article gives students an idea about two concepts and provides the difference. Students can download the article in pdf format by visiting Vedantu official page or Downloading Vedantu app.