Cellular Transport and Fluid Dynamics Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering fluid compartments, cell membrane permeability, types of passive transport, and solution tonicity based on the lecture transcript.

Passive transport

A cellular transport mechanism driven by natural forces that requires no additional energy input.

Active transport

A cellular transport mechanism where the cell must provide metabolic energy, usually in the form of ATP.

Solution

A homogeneous mixture composed of two or more components.

Solvent

The dissolving medium within a solution.

Solute

The dissolved ion or substance within a solution.

Intracellular fluid

The fluid located inside the cell membrane, which includes the nucleoplasm and cytosol.

Interstitial fluid

The extracellular fluid located outside of the cells and outside of the blood vessels.

Intravascular fluid

The extracellular fluid located inside the blood vessels.

Selective permeability

A property of the plasma membrane that allows certain materials to pass while excluding others.

Diffusion

A passive process in which particles tend to distribute themselves evenly within a solution, moving from high concentration to low concentration.

Simple diffusion

An unassisted passive transport process where lipid-soluble or very small materials pass directly through the plasma membrane.

Osmosis

The diffusion of water through a selectively permeable membrane.

Aquaporins

Little pores or channel proteins in the plasma membrane through which water molecules pass.

Hypertonic solution

A solution containing a greater concentration of solute compared to another solution.

Hypotonic solution

A solution containing a lesser concentration of solute compared to another solution.

Isotonic solution

A solution containing an equal concentration of solute compared to another solution, such as a $0.9\%$ salt solution relative to blood.

Facilitated diffusion

A passive transport process in which substances require a protein carrier or channel to move across the cell membrane.

Filtration

A passive transport process where water and solutes are forced through a membrane by a pressure gradient.