Fluid Mosaic Model and Cell Membranes

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts related to the Fluid Mosaic Model and cell membranes.

Fluid Mosaic Model

A model that describes the structure of cell membranes as a mosaic of various components such as phospholipids, cholesterol, proteins, and carbohydrates that move freely within the layer.

Phospholipid Bilayer

A double layer of phospholipids that forms the fundamental structure of cell membranes, with hydrophilic heads facing outward and hydrophobic tails facing inward.

Micelle

A spherical structure formed when phospholipids are mixed with water, with hydrophilic heads facing outwards and hydrophobic tails facing inwards.

Intrinsic Proteins

Proteins that are embedded in the phospholipid bilayer, with their arrangement influenced by their hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions.

Extrinsic Proteins

Proteins located on the outer or inner surface of the membrane, not embedded within the lipid bilayer.

Cholesterol

A lipid molecule that helps to stabilize cell membranes at varying temperatures by preventing phospholipids from packing too closely together.

Glycolipids

Lipids that have carbohydrate chains attached, projecting into the surrounding fluid and found on the outer layer of the membrane.

Glycoproteins

Proteins that have carbohydrate chains attached, allowing them to act as receptor molecules on the cell surface.

Cell Signalling

The process through which cells communicate and respond to their environment, involving the transmission of signals through receptors.

Ligands

Signalling molecules that bind to specific receptors on target cells to trigger a response in cell signalling pathways.

Passive Transport

The movement of substances across cell membranes without the need for energy, typically through diffusion or osmosis.

Active Transport

The process of moving substances across a cell membrane against the concentration gradient, requiring energy.