Cell Structure and Membrane Physiology

Vocabulary flashcards covering the components of the cell, plasma membrane structure, membrane proteins, fluidity, and selective permeability based on Anatomy & Physiology Chapter 3 lecture notes.

Plasma Membrane

The flexible outer boundary barrier that surrounds and contains the cytoplasm of the cell.

Cytoplasm

One of the three main subdivisions of a cell, consisting of cytosol and organelles.

Cytosol

The intracellular fluid portion of the cytoplasm.

Organelles

Structures within the cytoplasm that perform a particular function.

Nucleus

containins chromosomes.

3 parts of the cell

• Plasma membrane

• cytoplasm

• Nucleus

Chromosomes

Structures located in the nucleus composed of DNA and associated proteins.

Integral Proteins

span the entire width of the membrane

Peripheral Proteins

Membrane proteins that are located on only one side of the membrane.

Two types of membrane proteins

• Integral proteins

• peripheral proteins

Membrane Fluidity

The property of membranes being fluid structures because most membrane lipids and many membrane proteins move easily in their own half of the bilayer.

Cholesterol

stabilizes membrane and reduce membrane fluidity.

Plasma membranes are

Selectively permeable

Transmembrane proteins

Act as channels or transporters

Macromolecules

Only able to pass through the plasma membrane by vesicular transport

Concentration Gradient

Difference in the concentration of a chemical between one side of the plasma membrane and the other

Electrical Gradient

The difference in concentration of ions between one side of the plasma membrane and the other

Concentration Gradient + electrical gradient =

Electrochemical Gradient