Cell Communication and Junctions

These flashcards cover key vocabulary terms related to cell communication and junctions, essential for understanding their roles in physiology.

Connexon

A type of cell junction made up of six smaller connexins that connects two adjacent cells and allows for the exchange of ions and small molecules.

Gap Junction

A specialized intercellular connection between a multitude of animal cell-types where ions and small molecules can pass directly from one cell to another.

Membrane Nanotubes

Microscopic bridges formed between cells that allow for the transport of larger substances, such as organelles and nucleic acids.

Mechanosignal Transduction

Communication that occurs through physical stress, leading to a chemical response within the cell, such as during blood flow or muscle contraction.

Paracrine Signaling

A form of indirect cellular communication where a chemical messenger acts on nearby cells.

Autocrine Signaling

A form of signaling where a cell responds to signaling molecules that it produced itself.

Hydrophilic Signal

Chemical messengers that can dissolve in plasma and bind to cell surface receptors to alter existing protein activity.

Hydrophobic Signal

Lipid-soluble chemical messengers that can cross cell membranes and often induce gene expression.

Amplification

The process by which a signal in a cellular pathway is strengthened to increase the response intensity.

Neurotransmitter

Chemicals that transmit signals across a synaptic gap from one neuron to another.