In a hypertonic solution, water flows through aquaporins embedded in the plasma membrane of the cell. This type of transport is best known as which of the following?

Active transport involves the movement of substances against their concentration gradient, requiring energy in the form of ATP. In this scenario, the movement of water does not utilize energy but rather occurs passively due to osmotic gradients, making active transport an incorrect choice.

Diffusion is the process of particles moving from an area of higher concentration to one of lower concentration. While it describes the movement of solutes, it does not specifically address the movement of water, which is the focus of the question. Thus, diffusion does not accurately describe water transport through aquaporins.

Facilitated diffusion refers to the passive transport of molecules across a membrane via specialized proteins. While aquaporins do facilitate the movement of water, the term "osmosis" specifically encompasses the context of water movement and solute concentration, making it the more accurate term for this process.