Cell Membrane and Cell Transport

Front

What is the cell membrane?

Back

The cell membrane is a biological membrane that separates and protects the interior of all cells from the outside environment. It is selectively permeable, allowing certain substances to pass while blocking others.

Front

What is passive transport?

Back

Passive transport is the movement of substances across a cell membrane without the use of energy. It occurs along the concentration gradient, from areas of higher concentration to areas of lower concentration.

Front

What is active transport?

Back

Active transport is the movement of substances across a cell membrane using energy, typically in the form of ATP. It moves substances against their concentration gradient, from areas of lower concentration to areas of higher concentration.

Front

What is osmosis?

Back

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

Front

What is diffusion?

Back

Diffusion is the process by which molecules spread from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration until equilibrium is reached.

Front

What is equilibrium in the context of cell transport?

Back

Equilibrium is the state in which the concentration of a substance is equal on both sides of a membrane, resulting in no net movement of that substance.

Front

What is facilitated diffusion?

Back

Facilitated diffusion is a type of passive transport that uses specific proteins to help move molecules across the cell membrane without the use of energy.

Front

What is a hypertonic solution?

Back

A hypertonic solution is one that has a higher concentration of solutes compared to the inside of the cell, causing water to move out of the cell and potentially leading to cell shrinkage.

Front

What is a hypotonic solution?

Back

A hypotonic solution is one that has a lower concentration of solutes compared to the inside of the cell, causing water to move into the cell and potentially leading to cell swelling or bursting.

Front

What is an isotonic solution?

Back

An isotonic solution is one that has the same concentration of solutes as the inside of the cell, resulting in no net movement of water into or out of the cell.