<Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> Look up turgid in Wiktionary, the free dictionary . </Td> </Tr> <P> Turgor pressure is the force within the cell that pushes the plasma membrane against the cell wall . </P> <P> It is also called hydrostatic pressure, and more intricately defined as the pressure measured by a fluid, measured at a certain point within itself when at equilibrium . Generally, turgor pressure is caused by the osmotic flow of water and occurs in plants, fungi, and bacteria . The phenomenon is also observed in protists that have cell walls . This system is not seen in animal cells, seeing how the absence of a cell wall would cause the cell to lyse when under too much pressure . The pressure exerted by the osmotic flow of water is called turgidity . It is caused by the osmotic flow of water through a selectively permeable membrane . Osmotic flow of water through a semipermeable membrane is when the water travels from an area with a low - solute concentration, to one with a higher - solute concentration . In plants, this entails the water moving from the low concentration solute outside the cell, into the cell's vacuole . </P> <P> Osmosis is the process in which water flows from an area with a low solute concentration, to an adjacent area with a higher solute concentration until equilibrium between the two areas is reached . All cells are surrounded by a lipid bi-layer cell membrane which permits the flow of water in and out of the cell while also limiting the flow of solutes . In hypertonic solutions, water flows out of the cell which decreases the cell's volume . When in a hypotonic solution, water flows into the membrane and increases the cell's volume . When in an isotonic solution, water flows in and out of the cell at an equal rate . </P>

Element responsible for maintaining turgor pressure in cell