Cell Transport Vocabulary Review

Vocabulary flashcards related to cell transport concepts and processes, facilitating study and review.

Passive Transport

Cell transport method that does not require energy.

Active Transport

Cell transport method that requires energy to move substances against their concentration gradient.

Osmosis

The diffusion of water across a selectively permeable membrane.

Concentration Gradient

A difference in the concentration of a substance across a space.

Dynamic Equilibrium

A state of balance where the net movement of molecules ceases.

Hypotonic Solution

A solution that has a lower concentration of solutes compared to another solution, causing cells to swell.

Hypertonic Solution

A solution that has a higher concentration of solutes compared to another solution, causing cells to shrink.

Isotonic Solution

A solution with an equal concentration of solutes as another solution, leading to no net movement of water.

Turgor Pressure

Pressure exerted by the fluid in a cell against the cell wall, important for plant structure.

Plasmolysis

The process where the plasma membrane detaches from the cell wall due to loss of water.

Endocytosis

The process by which a cell engulfs material from the outside environment.

Exocytosis

The process of expelling material from a cell into the extracellular environment.

Facilitated Diffusion

Passive transport that uses a protein channel to help molecules cross the membrane.

Aquaporins

Channel proteins that facilitate the transport of water through a cell membrane.

Electrochemical Gradient

The gradient of electrochemical force that drives ions across a membrane.

Sodium-Potassium Pump

A primary active transport mechanism that moves Na+ ions out and K+ ions into a cell.

Protein Pumps

Proteins that transport ions against their concentration gradient, requiring energy.

Osmoregulation

The process of maintaining an appropriate balance of solutes and water in cells.

Solvent Density

The mass of solvent per unit volume, which can impact diffusion rates.

Solubility

The ability of a substance to dissolve in a solvent, affecting its diffusion rate.

Contractile Vacuoles

Organelles that pump excess water out of freshwater protists to prevent bursting.

Cotransporter

A protein that transports two substances across a membrane, often using the energy from one to move the other.

Gated Channel Proteins

Channel proteins that open or close in response to a signal, allowing specific molecules to pass.

Ligand

A molecule that binds specifically to a receptor.

Pinocytosis

The process of a cell engulfing small volumes of fluid and dissolved substances.

Phagocytosis

The process of a cell engulfing large particles or organisms.

Receptor-Mediated Endocytosis

The uptake of target molecules based on specific receptor-ligand interactions.

Normal Tonicity

The condition of a cell when it is in an equilibrium state with its surrounding environment.

Glucose Transport

The process of moving glucose across cell membranes, often through facilitated diffusion.

Bulk Transport

The movement of large quantities of substances into or out of cells.

Membrane Potential

The voltage difference across a cell membrane due to the distribution of ions.

Hydrophilic AA

Amino acids that attract ions and polar molecules, facilitating their movement across membranes.

Carrier Protein

A protein that transports specific substances across a cell membrane by changing shape.

Uniporter

A transporter that carries a single type of molecule across a membrane.

Symporter

A transporter that moves two different molecules in the same direction across a membrane.

Antiporter

A transporter that moves two different molecules in opposite directions across a membrane.

Hydrolysis of ATP

The process of breaking down ATP to provide energy for cellular activities.