Human Anatomy and Physiology: The Cell

These flashcards cover key terms and definitions related to cells, their structures, and their functions as presented in the Human Anatomy and Physiology lecture.

Cell Metabolism

Chemical reactions that a cell carries out to maintain life, including anabolic, catabolic, and oxidation-reduction reactions.

Plasma Membrane

The membrane that physically isolates the cell from its surroundings, provides structural support, regulates transport, and communicates with other cells.

Cytoplasm

The material within a cell, excluding the nucleus, consisting of cytosol, organelles, and the cytoskeleton.

Nucleus

The cellular structure that houses most of the cell’s DNA and is the site for RNA production.

Hydrophilic

Having a tendency to attract water; refers to the polar region of phospholipids.

Hydrophobic

Having a tendency to repel water; refers to the nonpolar region of phospholipids.

Fluid Mosaic Model

The model describing the structure of the plasma membrane as a mosaic of various proteins floating in or on the fluid lipid bilayer.

Active Transport

The movement of substances against their concentration gradient, requiring energy (ATP).

Diffusion

The movement of solute molecules from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration.

Osmosis

The movement of water across a selectively permeable membrane from a solution with lower solute concentration to one with higher solute concentration.

Endocytosis

The process by which cells take in substances by engulfing them in a vesicle.

Exocytosis

The process by which cells expel substances by vesicles fusing with the plasma membrane.

Mitosis

The process of cell division that results in two identical daughter cells with the same number of chromosomes as the original cell.

Cytoskeleton

A network of protein filaments that provide structural support, shape, and movement to cells.

Eukaryotic Cells

Complex cells that contain a nucleus and other membrane-bound organelles.

Ribosomes

Molecular machines in cells responsible for protein synthesis, made of rRNA and proteins.

ATP (Adenosine triphosphate)

The energy currency of the cell, used in active transport and other cellular processes.

Gene Expression

The process by which information from a gene is used to synthesize functional gene products such as proteins.