Homeostasis and Cell Transport

Front

What is homeostasis?

Back

Homeostasis is the process by which living organisms maintain a stable internal environment despite changes in external conditions.

Front

What role do phospholipids play in cell membranes?

Back

Phospholipids form the basic structure of cell membranes, creating a barrier that regulates the permeability of the membrane to biological molecules.

Front

What is 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

Define diffusion.

Back

Diffusion is the process by which molecules spread from areas of high concentration to areas of low concentration.

Front

What is the function of cholesterol in cell membranes?

Back

Cholesterol helps to stabilize the structure of cell membranes and reduces their permeability to small water-soluble molecules.

Front

What happens to a saltwater plant when placed in freshwater?

Back

Water will diffuse into the plant cell due to osmosis, potentially causing the cell to swell.

Front

What is the concentration gradient?

Back

The concentration gradient is the difference in the concentration of a substance across a space, which drives the movement of molecules during diffusion and osmosis.

Front

What is the primary function of the cell membrane?

Back

The cell membrane regulates the passage of molecules into and out of the cell, maintaining homeostasis.

Front

What does it mean for a membrane to be selectively permeable?

Back

A selectively permeable membrane allows certain molecules to pass through while blocking others, thus controlling the internal environment of the cell.

Front

What is facilitated diffusion?

Back

Facilitated diffusion is the process by which specific molecules are transported across cell membranes through protein channels, without the use of energy.