Cell Membranes & Transport

Front

What is the function of cholesterol in the cell membrane?

Back

Cholesterol helps to stabilize the cell membrane's fluidity and structure.

Front

What does it mean for a membrane to be semi-permeable?

Back

A semi-permeable membrane allows certain substances to pass through while blocking others.

Front

What is osmosis?

Back

Osmosis is the movement of water molecules across a semi-permeable membrane from an area of lower solute concentration to an area of higher solute concentration.

Front

What happens to a plant cell in pure water?

Back

The plant cell swells due to water rushing into it, which can lead to turgor pressure.

Front

What is the role of phospholipids in the cell membrane?

Back

Phospholipids form the basic structure of the cell membrane, creating a bilayer that separates the inside of the cell from the outside.

Front

Define diffusion.

Back

Diffusion is the movement of molecules from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration.

Front

What is the difference between active and passive transport?

Back

Active transport requires energy to move substances against their concentration gradient, while passive transport does not.

Front

What is turgor pressure?

Back

Turgor pressure is the pressure exerted by the fluid inside the central vacuole of a plant cell against the cell wall.

Front

What is a concentration gradient?

Back

A concentration gradient is the difference in the concentration of a substance across a space.

Front

What is facilitated diffusion?

Back

Facilitated diffusion is the process of transporting substances across a membrane with the help of carrier proteins, without using energy.