BRAINCAKEMovement of Water Across the Leaf
Water moves from the xylem to the mesophyll cells by osmosis.
Water evaporates from the mesophyll cells into the air spaces in the leaves.
The water then diffuses across the air spaces and through the stomata into the environment down a diffusion gradient.
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Key terms in this lesson
- diffusion
- The net passive movement of molecules or ions from a region of higher concentration to a region of lower concentration, down a concentration gradient.
- osmosis
- The net movement of water molecules from a region of higher water potential to a region of lower water potential through a selectively permeable membrane.
- water potential
- The pressure created by water molecules, a measure of the tendency of water to move out of a solution; pure water has a water potential of zero and solutes make it more negative.
- xylem
- Plant vascular tissue, made of dead, lignified tubular cells, that transports water and mineral ions from the roots to the leaves.
More in Mass Transport in Plants
- Transpiration
- Movement of Water into the Root Hair Cells
- Movement of Water across the Roots
- Movement of Water Up the Stem
- Movement of Water Through the Stomata
- Translocation
- Phloem Loading
- Mass Flow through Sieve Tube Elements
All 15 lessons in Mass Transport in Plants · All AQA AS-level Biology topics