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Anatomy & Physiology: The Cell and Its Functions

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Terms in this set (30)

  • What are the three main parts of a cell?
    The three main parts are the plasma membrane, cytoplasm, and nucleus.
  • What is the function of the plasma membrane?
    The plasma membrane controls the movement of substances in and out of the cell and provides protection and communication.
  • Describe the fluid mosaic model of the plasma membrane.
    The plasma membrane is a phospholipid bilayer with embedded proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids that move fluidly, creating a dynamic and selectively permeable barrier.
  • What is the amphipathic nature of phospholipids and why is it important?
    Phospholipids have a polar (hydrophilic) head and nonpolar (hydrophobic) tails, allowing the membrane to form a bilayer that separates intracellular and extracellular fluids.
  • What roles do proteins play in the plasma membrane?
    Proteins act as integral or peripheral components involved in transport, receptors, enzymes, and structural support.
  • Define simple diffusion.
    Simple diffusion is the passive movement of solutes from an area of higher concentration to lower concentration without energy or assistance.
  • What is facilitated diffusion?
    Facilitated diffusion is passive transport where solutes move down their concentration gradient through a protein channel or carrier.
  • Explain osmosis.
    Osmosis is the passive movement of water molecules across a selectively permeable membrane from a region of low solute concentration to high solute concentration.
  • Compare isotonic, hypertonic, and hypotonic solutions.
    Isotonic solutions have equal solute concentration inside and outside the cell; hypertonic solutions cause cells to shrink; hypotonic solutions cause cells to swell.
  • What is primary active transport?
    Primary active transport uses energy from ATP to move solutes against their concentration gradient via pumps like the Na+/K+ pump.
  • Describe secondary active transport.
    Secondary active transport uses the energy stored in an ion gradient created by primary active transport to move other substances against their gradient.
  • What is the function of vesicular transport?
    Vesicular transport moves large particles or fluids into or out of the cell via vesicles, including endocytosis and exocytosis.
  • Name and describe the types of endocytosis.
    Phagocytosis engulfs large particles; pinocytosis takes in fluids; receptor-mediated endocytosis uses receptors to selectively internalize molecules.
  • What are organelles?
    Organelles are specialized structures within the cytoplasm that perform distinct cellular functions.
  • What is the function of mitochondria?
    Mitochondria produce ATP through cellular respiration, supplying energy for the cell.
  • Describe the rough and smooth endoplasmic reticulum.
    Rough ER has ribosomes and synthesizes proteins; smooth ER synthesizes lipids and detoxifies substances.
  • What is the Golgi apparatus responsible for?
    The Golgi apparatus modifies, sorts, and packages proteins and lipids for secretion or delivery to other organelles.
  • What is the cytoskeleton?
    The cytoskeleton is a network of protein filaments (actin filaments, intermediate filaments, microtubules) that provide structure, support, and enable cellular movement.
  • What are microvilli, cilia, and flagella?
    Microvilli increase surface area for absorption; cilia move substances across the cell surface; flagella enable cell motility.
  • Describe the structure and function of the nucleus.
    The nucleus contains DNA, controls cellular activities, and is surrounded by a nuclear envelope with pores for molecular exchange.
  • What is chromatin?
    Chromatin is DNA wrapped around proteins called histones, existing in a loose form during interphase.
  • What are chromosomes and sister chromatids?
    Chromosomes are condensed chromatin visible during cell division; sister chromatids are identical copies joined at the centromere.
  • What is the nucleolus?
    The nucleolus is a dense region within the nucleus where ribosomal RNA is synthesized.
  • What is the genetic code?
    The genetic code is the sequence of DNA triplets that specify amino acids for protein synthesis.
  • Describe transcription.
    Transcription is the process of copying DNA into messenger RNA (mRNA) in the nucleus.
  • Describe translation.
    Translation is the process where ribosomes read mRNA codons to assemble amino acids into a polypeptide chain.
  • What is the cell cycle?
    The cell cycle is the sequence of phases a cell goes through from growth (interphase) to division (mitosis and cytokinesis).
  • What happens during interphase?
    Interphase includes G1 (cell growth), S (DNA replication), and G2 (preparation for division).
  • What is mitosis?
    Mitosis is the division of the nucleus resulting in two identical daughter nuclei.
  • What is cytokinesis?
    Cytokinesis is the division of the cytoplasm, completing cell division.