When placed in a hypertonic solution, a cell without a cell wall will lose water to the environment, shrivel, and probably die. In a hypertonic solution, a cell with a cell wall will lose water too. The plasma membrane pulls away from the cell wall as it shrivels, a process called plasmolysis.

What causes a cell to shrivel?

A hypertonic solution means the environment outside of the cell has more dissolved material than inside of the cell. If a cell is placed in a hypertonic solution, water will leave the cell. This can cause a cell to shrink and shrivel.

When cells shrivel up they are in what type of conditions?

Hypertonic solutions cause blood cells to shrivel. Hypotonic solutions can cause the blood cell to burst from the pressure. There are three types of solutions that can occur in your body based on solute concentration: isotonic, hypotonic, and hypertonic.