Cell Membrane and Transport Review

Front

What is a phospholipid?

Back

A phospholipid is a molecule composed of a phosphate and glycerol head and two fatty acid chain tails, forming the fundamental structure of cell membranes.

Front

What does isotonic mean in terms of solute concentration?

Back

Isotonic refers to a solution that has the same strength and concentration of solutes outside the cell as inside the cell.

Front

What happens to a cell in a hypertonic solution?

Back

In a hypertonic solution, the concentration of water is higher inside the cell, causing water to leave the cell to reach equilibrium, which can lead to cell shriveling.

Front

How do large molecules exit the cell?

Back

Large molecules that cannot pass through the cell membrane can be transported out of the cell by a process called exocytosis.

Front

What is the role of integral proteins in the cell membrane?

Back

Integral proteins are embedded within the cell membrane and play crucial roles in transporting substances across the membrane and facilitating communication between the cell and its environment.

Front

Define 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 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 endocytosis?

Back

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

Front

What is the difference between hypotonic and hypertonic solutions?

Back

A hypotonic solution has a lower concentration of solutes compared to the inside of the cell, causing water to enter the cell, while a hypertonic solution has a higher concentration of solutes, causing water to leave the cell.

Front

What is the function of cholesterol in the cell membrane?

Back

Cholesterol helps to stabilize the fluidity of the cell membrane, making it less permeable to very small water-soluble molecules that might otherwise pass freely through.