Chapter 3 Bio Vocab

active transport

method of transporting material that requires energy

concentration gradient

an area of high concentration across from an area of low concentration

diffusion

a passive process of transport of low-molecular weight down its concentration gradient

electrochemical gradient

a gradient produced by the combined forces of the electro and chemical gradients

endocytosis

a type of active transport that moves substances, including fluids and particles, into a cell.

eukaryotic cell

a cell that has a membrane-bound nucleus and several other membrane-bound compartments or sacs

exocytosis

process of passing material out of a cell

facilitated transport

process by which material moves down a concentration gradient (from high to low concentration) using integral membrane proteins

hypertonic

a solution in which extracellular fluid has higher osmolarity than the fluid inside the cell

hypotonic

a solution in which extracellular fluid has lower osmolarity than the fluid inside the cell

isotonic

solution where extracellular fluid has the same osmolarity as the fluid inside the cell

organelle

a membrane-bound compartment or sac within a cell

osmolarity

total amount of substances dissolved in a specific amount of solution

osmosis

transport of water through a semipermeable membrane from an area of high water concentration to an area of low water concentration across a membrane

passive transport

process of transporting material that does not require energy

prokaryotic cell

unicellular organism that lacks a nucleus or any other membrane bound organelle

selectively permeable

characteristic of membrane that allows some substances through but not others

solute

solution dissolved in another to form a solution

tonicity

amount of solute in a solution

vesicle

small, membrane-bound sac that functions in cellular storage and transport; its membrane is capable of fusing with the plasma membrane and the membranes of the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus