Membrane Transport

Front

What is endocytosis?

Back

Endocytosis is the process by which cells internalize substances from their external environment by engulfing them in a membrane-bound vesicle.

Front

What are phagocytosis and pinocytosis?

Back

Phagocytosis is a type of endocytosis where cells engulf large particles or cells, while pinocytosis is the process of engulfing liquid and small particles.

Front

What does 'bilayer' refer to in cell membranes?

Back

Bilayer refers to the structure of the cell membrane, consisting of two layers of phospholipids.

Front

What is a hypotonic solution?

Back

A hypotonic solution has a lower concentration of solutes compared to the inside of the cell, which can cause the cell to swell and potentially burst.

Front

What is osmosis?

Back

Osmosis is the diffusion of water across a semipermeable membrane from an area of lower solute concentration to an area of higher solute concentration.

Front

What is the role 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.

Front

What is exocytosis?

Back

Exocytosis is the process by which cells expel materials in vesicles that fuse with the plasma membrane, releasing their contents outside the cell.

Front

What is facilitated diffusion?

Back

Facilitated diffusion is the process of passive transport of molecules across a cell membrane via specific transmembrane integral proteins.

Front

What is active transport?

Back

Active transport is the movement of molecules across a cell membrane from a region of lower concentration to a region of higher concentration, requiring energy.

Front

What is a semipermeable membrane?

Back

A semipermeable membrane allows certain molecules or ions to pass through it by diffusion and occasionally by specialized facilitated diffusion.