Human Anatomy and Physiology - Chapter 03 Part B: Cells

Flashcards covering key terms and concepts from Chapter 03 Part B of Human Anatomy and Physiology, focusing on cell transport mechanisms.

Active membrane transport

Processes that move solutes across a plasma membrane against their concentration gradients using energy.

Primary active transport

Transport that requires energy directly from ATP hydrolysis to move solutes against their electrochemical gradients.

Secondary active transport

Transport that uses energy stored in ionic gradients created by primary active transport to move other substances against their concentration gradients.

Sodium-potassium pump

A primary active transport mechanism that pumps 3 Na+ ions out of the cell and 2 K+ ions back in, essential for maintaining electrochemical gradients.

Electrochemical gradient

The combined influence of concentration gradients and electrical charge differences across the cell membrane.

Phagocytosis

A type of endocytosis referred to as 'cell eating', where cells engulf solid particles into vesicles.

Pinocytosis

Type of endocytosis known as 'cell drinking', involving the uptake of extracellular fluid and dissolved solutes.

Exocytosis

The process of ejection of materials from the cell, often involving secretory vesicles.

Resting membrane potential (RMP)

The electrical potential difference across the cell membrane when a cell is not transmitting signals, typically ranging from -50 to -100 mV.

Ion gradient

The difference in concentration of ions (such as Na+ and K+) across a membrane, crucial for various cellular processes.

Vesicular transport

Transport mechanisms that involve membrane-bound vesicles to move large molecules or particles across cell membranes.

Antiporter

A type of carrier protein that transports one substance into the cell while transporting another substance out.

Symporter

A carrier protein that transports two different substances in the same direction across the membrane.

Transcytosis

The process of transporting large particles and macromolecules across the cell in vesicles.