Human Cell Physiology Lecture Notes

This collection of flashcards summarizes key concepts and definitions from the Human Cell Physiology lecture notes by Dr. R. Ahangari.

What are the basic structural and functional units of life?

Cells are the basic structural and functional units of life.

What is the outer membrane of the cell that separates intracellular and extracellular compartments?

Plasma membrane (plasmalemma) is the outer thin and flexible membrane of the cell.

What is the composition of the plasma membrane?

The plasma membrane is made of a double layer of lipids such as phospholipids, cholesterol, and glycolipids, with proteins embedded.

What is the role of phospholipids in the plasma membrane?

Phospholipids are the most abundant lipids in the plasma membrane, with hydrophilic heads facing water and hydrophobic tails in the center.

What are the two types of membrane proteins?

Integral proteins and peripheral proteins.

What is the function of glycocalyx?

Glycocalyx functions in cell-to-cell binding and recognition.

What are the three types of movements across the plasma membrane?

Passive process, active process, and vesicular or bulk transport.

What is exocytosis?

Exocytosis is the process where membrane-lined cytoplasmic vesicles fuse with the plasma membrane and release their contents outside the cell.

What is endocytosis?

Endocytosis is the process of bringing large molecules into the cell by infolding the plasma membrane to form cytoplasmic vesicles.

What is phagocytosis?

Phagocytosis is a type of endocytosis where the plasma membrane engulfs large molecules such as bacteria.

What role do ribosomes play in the cell?

Ribosomes are the site of protein production, linking amino acids together to form proteins.

What is the function of rough endoplasmic reticulum (rER)?

The rER is involved in the synthesis of proteins that enter the cisternae and are secreted by the cell.

What is the role of smooth endoplasmic reticulum (sER)?

The sER is involved in lipid and steroid synthesis, lipid metabolism, and drug detoxification.

What does the Golgi apparatus do?

The Golgi apparatus sorts products from the rER and packages them in vesicles for transport.

What is the primary function of mitochondria in the cell?

Mitochondria are the main energy generators of the cell, specifically the site of ATP synthesis.

What are lysosomes and their function?

Lysosomes are membrane-walled sacs containing digestive enzymes, responsible for intracellular digestion.

What is Tay-Sachs disease?

Tay-Sachs disease is an inherited disease where infants lack specific lysosomal enzymes, leading to accumulation of glycolipids and severe neurological impairment.

What are peroxisomes?

Peroxisomes are membrane-walled sacs containing enzymes that neutralize free radicals and break down toxic substances.

What are microtubules?

Microtubules are cylindrical structures made of tubulin proteins, providing shape to the cell and organizing organelle distribution.

What is the role of microfilaments (actin filaments) in the cell?

Microfilaments are involved in generating contractile forces within the cell, playing a role in muscle contraction and cell movement.

What is the function of centrioles during cell division?

Centrioles organize a microtubule network to form the spindle and asters during mitosis.