Final answer:
A hypertonic solution has a higher solute concentration outside the cell leading to water leaving the cell and potentially causing it to shrivel or crenate.
Step-by-step explanation:
A hypertonic solution is characterized by having a higher concentration of solutes in the extracellular fluid compared to the cell's cytoplasm.
As a result, the fluid outside the cell contains less water than what is found inside the cell.
This imbalance causes water to leave the cell in an attempt to equalize the osmotic pressure on both sides of the cell's membrane, leading to cellular shrinkage or crenation in animal cells.
Understanding the effects of hypertonic solutions is crucial in biology, as it has significant implications for cell health and behavior.