Biology 2 - Intro to Gradients and Osmotic Pressure (Exam 3)

What is a Gradient?

A difference in concentration between the inside of a cell and the outside of the cell

What provides the driving force for diffusion?

Gradients

Why do cells require a gradient?

Because the microworld is incredibly water, and cells need to separate their inside fluids and particles from the outside

What is the cell's goal with diffusion and Cell Pathways?

To create equilibrium of fluids and/or specific particles between the inside of the cell and outside of the cell

What does every cell in the body rely heavily on?

Gradients

What is diffusion?

Movement of particles/fluid between the cell wall and the environment.

Does diffusion require effort from the cell?

No, it requires very little to no effort from the cell.

What does the cell membrane consist of?

Phospholipid Bi-Layer

What does each subunit of the Phospholipid Bi-Layer consist of?

A phosphate head that's hydrophilic, and has two attached fatty acid lipid tails with hydrophobic properties

What is the Phospholipid Bi-Layer required/crucial for?

Separating the inside of the cell from the outside environment

Types of Gradients

Chemical Gradient, Charge Gradient, Pressure Gradient

What is a chemical gradient?

A gradient that exists when there's a different number of chemicals within the cell and outside the cell.

What causes a chemical gradient?

The difference in concentration of chemicals inside and outside the cell.

What are gradients created by?

The Cell Pumps

What are cell pumps?

Structures in cell walls that maintain equilibrium.

What do cell pumps do?

They pump in or pump out particles/fluid.

What do Cell Pumps require to function?

Energy, such as ATP from the cell

Why are Cell Pumps used ahead of time?

Because of how quickly actions occur within the body

What is the major difference between Cell Pumps and Cell Pathways?

Cell Pumps requires the use of energy, while Cell Pathways do not and are more of a passive flow of resources

What are Channel Proteins?

Proteins that create openings within a cell's membrane to allow particles/fluids to pass through.

What are Carrier Proteins?

Proteins that facilitate the transport of substances across a cell's membrane.

What is the function of cell membrane pathways?

To allow particles/fluids to be pumped into or outside the cell.

What has to occur for a gradient to NOT be occurring?

The concentration of the focused variable being the exact same as the outside environment

What area's are Positive Charged Ions attracted to?

Negatively charged areas

What are osmotic pressure gradients?

Gradients that focus on the movement of water.

What do osmotic pressure gradients affect?

The movement of water between the inside and the outside of the cell.

What are Osmotic Pressure Gradients dependent on?

The total number of particles within the fluid in the cell divided by the total volume of fluid

What does higher Osmotic Pressure mean?

Higher number of particles within the fluid

Particles are the same thing as...

Solutes!

Why is water always able to move through the cell?

Because of water channels that all cells have

Why does water move to higher Osmotic Pressure?

To dilute the higher number of solutes

What is a major job of the human liver?

To ensure we have the correct water balance within our body

What is the formula for Osmotic Pressure practically stating?

"How many particles within per liter of fluid"