Cell Transport and Homeostasis

Homeostasis

The process of maintaining balance or equilibrium for proper functioning within cells or the body.

Semi-permeable membrane

A membrane that allows some substances to pass through while blocking others.

Passive Transport

Type of transport that does not require energy and moves substances from high to low concentration.

Active Transport

Type of transport that requires energy to move substances against their concentration gradient.

Diffusion

The natural spreading of molecules from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration.

Osmosis

The diffusion of water across a semi-permeable membrane.

Facilitated Diffusion

Transport process that involves channel proteins to assist larger molecules in passing through the membrane.

Osmotic Balance

The condition where the concentration of solutes is equal inside and outside the cell.

Hypotonic solution

A solution with a lower concentration of solutes outside the cell, causing water to flow into the cell.

Isotonic solution

A solution with equal concentrations of solutes inside and outside the cell, resulting in no net movement of water.

Hypertonic solution

A solution with a higher concentration of solutes outside the cell, causing water to flow out and the cell to shrink.

Endocytosis

The process by which a cell membrane wraps around a substance and engulfs it into the cell.

Exocytosis

The process of expelling waste or materials from a cell by vesicles fusing with the cell membrane.

Sodium-Potassium Pump

A type of active transport that moves sodium out of and potassium into cells, requiring energy.

Energy in Active Transport

The energy required to move substances from low to high concentration against their gradient.

Molecule Movement in Passive Transport

Substances move along the concentration gradient from areas of high to low concentration.

Cell Shrinkage in Hypertonic Solution

The process in which cells lose water to a surrounding solution with higher solute concentrations.

Effects of a Hypotonic Solution on Cells

Cells swell and may burst due to an influx of water.

Maintaining Cell Health

Cells maintain their health by balancing concentrations of substances through transport processes.

Energy Usage in Endocytosis and Exocytosis

Both processes require energy as they move large materials into or out of the cell.