Cell Membrane and Transport Flashcard

Front

What happens to red blood cells in a hypertonic solution?

Back

Water will leave the red blood cells by osmosis, causing them to shrivel as they lose cytoplasmic volume.

Front

What does it mean for a plasma membrane to be selectively permeable?

Back

It allows the movement of only certain particles across it.

Front

What is the function of cholesterol in the cell membrane?

Back

Cholesterol helps to maintain membrane stability and reduce membrane permeability.

Front

How do particles move in diffusion and facilitated diffusion?

Back

Particles move from high to low concentration (down their concentration gradient).

Front

What mechanism is used to transport glucose into a cell when its concentration is higher inside than outside?

Back

Active transport is used to move glucose into the cell.

Front

Define osmosis.

Back

Osmosis is the movement of water across a selectively permeable membrane from an area of low solute concentration to an area of high solute concentration.

Front

What is the role of proteins in the cell membrane?

Back

Proteins help with the transport of materials across the membrane and can also serve as receptors.

Front

What is the difference between passive and active transport?

Back

Passive transport does not require energy and moves substances down their concentration gradient, while active transport requires energy to move substances against their concentration gradient.

Front

What is facilitated diffusion?

Back

Facilitated diffusion is the process of transporting substances across a membrane with the help of carrier proteins, moving from high to low concentration.

Front

What is a hypertonic solution?

Back

A hypertonic solution has a higher concentration of solutes compared to another solution, leading to water moving out of cells.