what is turgor

Turgor refers to the pressure exerted by fluid in a cell that presses the cell membrane against the cell wall. It is also called hydrostatic pressure and is defined as the pressure in a fluid measured at a certain point within itself when at equilibrium. Turgor pressure is what makes living plant tissue rigid, and loss of turgor, resulting from the loss of water from plant cells, causes flowers and leaves to wilt. Turgor plays a key role in the opening and closing of stomata in leaves. Turgor pressure can also be found in other organisms besides plants and can play a large role in the development, movement, and nature of said organisms. For example, in fungi, turgor pressure has been observed as a large factor in substrate penetration. In a medical context, the assessment of skin turgor is used clinically to determine the extent of dehydration or fluid loss in the body. A decrease in skin turgor is a late sign of dehydration.