A hypertonic solution has a higher concentration of solutes compared to another solution, typically a cell's internal fluid. When a cell is placed in a hypertonic solution, water moves out of the cell to balance the solute concentrations, causing the cell to shrink. This process is known as osmosis. In biological contexts, hypertonic solutions can affect cells in various ways. For example, if red blood cells are exposed to a hypertonic solution, they may undergo crenation, where they become shriveled. Understanding hypertonic solutions is important in fields like medicine and biology, especially in treatments involving intravenous fluids.