Cell Transport Flashcard Review

Front

What is facilitated diffusion?

Back

Facilitated diffusion is a passive transport process that allows small, charged molecules to cross the cell membrane through specific transport proteins, moving down their concentration gradient without the use of energy.

Front

What is active transport?

Back

Active transport is the movement of molecules across a cell membrane from a region of lower concentration to a region of higher concentration, using energy (ATP) and specific transport proteins.

Front

What is passive transport?

Back

Passive transport is the movement of molecules across a cell membrane without the use of energy, typically moving from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration.

Front

What is osmosis?

Back

Osmosis is the diffusion of water molecules across a selectively permeable membrane from an area of lower solute concentration to an area of higher solute concentration.

Front

What is endocytosis?

Back

Endocytosis is a process by which cells engulf external substances, forming a vesicle to bring them into the cell.

Front

What is exocytosis?

Back

Exocytosis is the process by which cells expel materials in vesicles that fuse with the cell membrane, releasing their contents outside the cell.

Front

What happens in a hypertonic solution?

Back

In a hypertonic solution, the concentration of solutes outside the cell is higher than inside, leading to a net flow of water out of the cell, causing it to shrink.

Front

What happens in a hypotonic solution?

Back

In a hypotonic solution, the concentration of solutes outside the cell is lower than inside, resulting in a net flow of water into the cell, which may cause it to swell and potentially burst.

Front

What is the role of transport proteins?

Back

Transport proteins facilitate the movement of specific molecules across the cell membrane, either through facilitated diffusion or active transport.

Front

What is the concentration gradient?

Back

The concentration gradient is the difference in the concentration of a substance across a space, driving the movement of molecules from high to low concentration.