Cell Membrane Anatomy and Physiology for Kindergarteners

Flashcards explaining cell membrane anatomy and substance transport for kindergarteners Gemini

Cell Membrane

The cell membrane is like a fence around your house (the cell). It holds everything inside and lets good things in while keeping bad things out. (Imagine a picture of a fence around a house.)

Phospholipid Bilayer

Imagine the cell membrane is made of tiny sandwiches. Each sandwich has a head (phospho) that likes water and two tails (lipid) that don't. They line up in two layers (bi-layer) with the tails touching each other inside. (Picture: A simple drawing of phospholipids forming two layers.)

Symport

Think of symport as two friends going through a door together. One friend (a substance) can only go in if the other friend (another substance) goes with it at the same time, in the same direction! (Visual: Two figures holding hands, entering a door together.)

Antiport

Antiport is like a revolving door. One person goes in, and another person comes out at the same time. One substance goes in, and another substance goes out. (Visual: A revolving door with one figure entering and another exiting simultaneously.)

ATP

ATP is like the cell's tiny battery. It gives the cell energy to do things, like move stuff across the membrane. (Visual: Draw a little battery labeled 'ATP' powering a cell.)

Crossing the Cell Membrane

Some things are small enough to sneak through the fence (membrane) on their own. Other things need a special door (proteins) to help them get in or out. And some things, like big packages, need a whole truck (vesicles) to deliver them! (Visual: Draw small dots easily passing through the membrane, larger molecules using protein channels, and a large package inside a vesicle approaching the membrane.)