Cell Membrane Flashcard

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Glycoprotein

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A molecule composed of a carbohydrate and a protein, often found on the surface of cell membranes, playing a key role in cell recognition and signaling.

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Peripheral or Surface Protein

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Proteins that are attached to the exterior or interior surfaces of the cell membrane, involved in signaling and maintaining the cell's shape.

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Selective Permeability

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The ability of the cell membrane to allow certain substances to pass through while restricting others, crucial for maintaining homeostasis.

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Fluid Mosaic Model

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A model that describes the structure of the cell membrane as a mosaic of various proteins that float in or on the fluid lipid bilayer.

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Phospholipid Bilayer

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A double layer of phospholipids that makes up the cell membrane, with hydrophilic heads facing outward and hydrophobic tails facing inward.

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Cholesterol in Cell Membrane

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A lipid that helps to stabilize the fluidity of the cell membrane, making it less permeable to very small water-soluble molecules.

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Transport Proteins

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Proteins that assist in the movement of substances across the cell membrane, including channel proteins and carrier proteins.

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Diffusion

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The process by which molecules spread from areas of high concentration to areas of low concentration, a key mechanism for substance movement across membranes.

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Osmosis

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The diffusion of water across a selectively permeable membrane, crucial for maintaining cell turgor and homeostasis.

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Endocytosis

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The process by which cells internalize substances by engulfing them in a membrane, forming a vesicle.