What term describes the movement of water and solutes through a membrane due to mechanical forces?

The term that best describes the movement of water and solutes through a membrane as a result of mechanical forces is filtration. This process typically involves pressure differences across a membrane, causing substances to move from an area of higher pressure to an area of lower pressure. In biological systems, filtration is often seen in situations like kidney function, where blood pressure drives the movement of fluids and solutes into the renal tubules.

Understanding that filtration is distinct from other processes is essential. For example, diffusion involves the movement of particles from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration, driven by concentration gradients rather than mechanical forces. Active transport, on the other hand, requires energy to move substances against their concentration gradient, which does not involve mechanical pressure. The term concentration gradient itself pertains to the difference in concentration of a substance between two areas and does not directly imply the involvement of mechanical forces. This distinction clarifies why filtration is the appropriate term in this context.