active transport vocab- blue

active transport

the movement of molecules across a cell membrane against their concentration gradient (from low to high), requiring energy (ATP)

electrochemical gradient

the combined effect of a concentration gradient and an electrical charge difference across a membrane, influencing ion movement

endocytosis

the process by which a cell engulfs external substances by enclosing them in a vesicle and bringing them into the cell.

exocytosis

the process by which a cell expels materials using vesicles that fuse with the cell membrane, releasing their contents outside of the cell.

phagocytosis

a type of endocytosis in which a cell engulfs large particles or microorganisms, often referred to as "cell eating"

pinocytosis

a type of endocytosis in which the cell engulfs extracellular fluid and dissolved solutes, often called "cell drinking"

proton pump

a type of transport protein that actively moves hydrogen ions (H+) across a membrane to generate an electrochemical gradient

pump

a transport protein that uses energy (ATP) to move molecules against their concentration gradient, essential for active transport

receptor-mediated endocytosis

a specialized form of endocytosis in which specific molecules bind to cell surface receptors before being internalized in vesicles

secretion

the release of substances from a cell, often through exocytosis, such as hormones or enzymes

sodium-potassium pump

a specific type of pump that actively moves sodium out of the cell and potassium into the cell, essential for nerve function

transport protein

a protein embedded in the cell membrane that helps move substances across, either actively(requiring energy) or passively