Absorption of Water by Root Hair Cells (Edexcel IGCSE Biology)

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Lára Marie McIvor

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Root Hair Cells

Uptake of water into the root

  • Root hairs are single-celled extensions of epidermis cells in the root

    • They grow between soil particles and absorb water and minerals from the soil

  • Root hair cells are adapted for the efficient uptake of water (by osmosis) and mineral ions (by active transport)

    • They contain mitochondria which release energy for active transport

    • Root hairs increase the surface area of plant roots, increasing the rate at which water and minerals can be taken up

  • Root hair cells take up mineral ions and water from the soil as follows:

    1. Roots hair cells take up mineral ions from the soil by active transport

    2. The water concentration of the cell cytoplasm is reduced due to the presence of mineral ions 

    3. Water moves into the root hair cell by osmosis

Root Hair Cell, IGCSE & GCSE Biology revision notes

A root hair cell

Structure of the root, IGCSE & GCSE Biology revision notes

The structure of a root specifically allows it to maximise absorption of water by osmosis and mineral ions by active transport

The route of water through the plant

  • Water moves, by osmosis, into the root hair cells, through the root cortex and into the xylem vessels:

  • Once the water gets into the xylem, it is carried up to the leaves where it enters mesophyll cells

  • So the pathway is:

root hair cell → root cortex cells → xylem → leaf mesophyll cells

Pathway of water into and across a root, IGCSE & GCSE Biology revision notes

Pathway of water into and across a root


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Lára Marie McIvor

Author: Lára Marie McIvor

Expertise: Biology Lead

Lára graduated from Oxford University in Biological Sciences and has now been a science tutor working in the UK for several years. Lára has a particular interest in the area of infectious disease and epidemiology, and enjoys creating original educational materials that develop confidence and facilitate learning.