Homeostasis and Cell Transport

Front

What is the fluid mosaic model of the plasma membrane?

Back

The fluid mosaic model describes the plasma membrane as a dynamic structure where proteins are interspersed within a phospholipid bilayer, allowing both lipids and proteins to move laterally, contributing to the membrane's fluidity.

Front

What happens to plant cells when placed in a hypertonic solution?

Back

When plant cells are placed in a hypertonic solution, they lose water, leading to plasmolysis, where the cell membrane pulls away from the cell wall.

Front

What is thermoregulation?

Back

Thermoregulation is the process by which certain organisms maintain their internal body temperature within a narrow range, despite external temperature changes.

Front

What type of feedback mechanism is primarily used in thermoregulation?

Back

Negative feedback is primarily used in thermoregulation to maintain homeostasis by counteracting changes in body temperature.

Front

What are the two important ions involved in creating a chemical and electrical gradient across the cell membrane?

Back

The two important ions are sodium (Na⁺) and potassium (K⁺).

Front

What does hydrophobic mean in the context of phospholipids?

Back

Hydrophobic refers to the part of the phospholipid that repels water, typically the fatty acid tails, which face inward away from water.

Front

What is homeostasis?

Back

Homeostasis is the process by which living organisms regulate their internal environment to maintain stable, constant conditions.

Front

What is the role of proteins in the plasma membrane?

Back

Proteins in the plasma membrane serve various functions, including transport, acting as channels or carriers, and serving as receptors for signaling molecules.

Front

What is osmosis?

Back

Osmosis is the movement 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 a hypertonic solution?

Back

A hypertonic solution is one that has a higher concentration of solutes compared to another solution, leading to water moving out of cells placed in it.