What is hemolysis?

Hemolysis refers specifically to the process in which red blood cells (RBCs) burst or break down, releasing their contents into the surrounding fluid. This can occur due to various factors, including osmotic imbalances where RBCs are placed in a hypotonic solution, leading to an influx of water, causing the cells to swell and eventually rupture. Hemolysis is a critical concept in biology because it has implications for transfusions, where mismatched blood types can lead to the destruction of the donor's cells by the recipient's immune system.

The other concepts presented do not accurately represent hemolysis. For instance, cell shrinkage pertains to crenation, which occurs when cells lose water, and swelling of plant cells relates to turgor pressure, a different physiological process. Movement of water across a membrane refers to osmosis, a fundamental process in cellular biology, but it does not specifically indicate the bursting of red blood cells.