cell Membrane

These flashcards cover key vocabulary related to membrane transport processes in human bioscience, specifically aimed at understanding various terms and concepts associated with cellular movement.

Concentration Gradient

The difference in the concentration of a substance between two areas.

Selective Permeability

The ability of a membrane to allow certain molecules to pass while restricting others.

Diffusion

The process of molecules moving from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration.

Active Transport

The movement of molecules across a membrane against their concentration gradient, requiring energy.

Passive Transport

The movement of molecules across a membrane down their concentration gradient without the use of energy.

Solute Pumping

A form of active transport that uses energy to move solutes against their concentration gradient.

Exocytosis

The process by which materials are expelled from a cell via vesicles.

Endocytosis

The process by which a cell takes in materials by engulfing them with its membrane.

Phagocytosis

A type of endocytosis in which a cell engulfs large particles or whole cells.

Pinocytosis

A type of endocytosis in which a cell takes in liquid from the surrounding environment.

Hypertonic

A solution with a higher concentration of solutes compared to another solution.

Hypotonic

A solution with a lower concentration of solutes compared to another solution.

Isotonic

A solution with an equal concentration of solutes compared to another solution.

Phospholipid Bilayer

The fundamental structure of cell membranes, consisting of two layers of phospholipids.

Integral Proteins

Proteins that are embedded within the lipid bilayer of cell membranes.

Peripheral Proteins

Proteins that are attached to the surface of the membrane but do not span it.

Facilitated Diffusion

The process of passive transport of molecules across a membrane via a protein channel.
e.g the transport of glucose into the cell via glucose transporters that allow it to cross the plasma membrane without expending energy.

Osmosis

The diffusion of water across a selectively permeable membrane, which occurs from an area of low solute concentration to an area of high solute concentration.

Ion Pumps

Membrane proteins that move ions across the cell membrane against their concentration gradient.

Sodium-Potassium Pump

A transport protein that pumps sodium out of the cell and potassium into the cell using ATP.

Vesicular Transport

The movement of substances in and out of the cell via vesicles.

Cell Membrane

A biological membrane that separates and protects the interior of the cell from the external environment.

Diffusion Distance

The distance that molecules must travel during diffusion, where shorter distances allow for faster diffusion.

Steepness of Concentration Gradient

The difference in concentration levels across a membrane that influences the rate of diffusion.

Electrical Forces

Forces that affect the movement of charged ions across the membrane, influencing transport.

Net Movement

The overall direction and amount of movement of molecules from one area to another.

What is the structure of the plasma membrane?

The plasma membrane is a phospholipid bilayer with embedded proteins, cholesterol, and carbohydrates that provide structure, support, and cell signaling.It regulates the movement of substances in and out of the cell.

What role does active transport play in moving substances across the plasma membrane?

Active transport uses ATP to move substances against their concentration gradient, allowing for the accumulation of specific substances inside the cell.