Skip to main content
Back

Anatomy & Physiology: Cell Structure and Membrane Transport

Control buttons has been changed to "navigation" mode.
1/22

Terms in this set (22)

  • What are the three basic parts of a generalized cell?
    Plasma membrane, cytoplasm, and nucleus.
  • What is the primary function of the plasma membrane?
    Acts as a barrier separating intracellular fluid from extracellular fluid and controls what enters and leaves the cell.
  • What is the composition of the plasma membrane lipid bilayer?
    75% phospholipids with hydrophilic heads and hydrophobic tails, 5% glycolipids, and 20% cholesterol.
  • What are the two types of membrane proteins and their functions?
    Integral proteins are transmembrane and function as transport proteins; peripheral proteins are loosely attached and function as enzymes and motor proteins.
  • What are the two main types of membrane transport?
    Passive processes (no energy required) and active processes (energy required).
  • What is diffusion and what drives it?
    Movement of molecules down their concentration gradient from high to low concentration without energy.
  • What is facilitated diffusion?
    Passive transport of hydrophobic molecules down their concentration gradient via carrier proteins or channel proteins.
  • What distinguishes active membrane transport from passive transport?
    Active transport requires ATP to move solutes against their concentration gradient using carrier proteins.
  • What is the sodium-potassium pump and its role?
    An antiporter that pumps 3 Na+ out and 2 K+ into the cell against their gradients, maintaining electrochemical balance.
  • What is vesicular transport?
    Transport of large particles or fluids across the membrane in vesicles, requiring ATP.
  • Name the types of vesicular transport.
    Endocytosis, exocytosis, transcytosis, and vesicular trafficking.
  • What is phagocytosis?
    Type of endocytosis where the cell engulfs large particles like bacteria or debris ('cell eating').
  • What is pinocytosis?
    Type of endocytosis where the cell ingests extracellular fluid and dissolved solutes ('cell drinking').
  • What is exocytosis?
    Process where materials enclosed in secretory vesicles are ejected from the cell.
  • What is resting membrane potential (RMP)?
    Electrical potential across the plasma membrane due to ionic imbalances, typically -50 to -100 mV.
  • What maintains the resting membrane potential?
    Diffusion of K+ out of the cell balanced by electrical attraction to the negative interior.
  • What are the main components of the cytoplasm?
    Cytosol (gel-like fluid), inclusions (insoluble molecules), and organelles.
  • What is the function of mitochondria?
    Produce most of the cell's ATP via aerobic cellular respiration.
  • What are the two types of endoplasmic reticulum and their functions?
    Rough ER synthesizes proteins; Smooth ER is involved in lipid metabolism, detoxification, and calcium storage.
  • What is the role of the Golgi apparatus?
    Modifies, concentrates, and packages proteins and lipids from the rough ER for transport.
  • What are microvilli?
    Fingerlike projections from the cell surface that increase surface area for absorption.
  • What is the nucleus and its significance?
    Control center of the cell containing DNA; most cells have one nucleus.