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Anatomy & Physiology chapter 3

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  • What are the three basic parts of a generalized human cell?

    Plasma membrane (flexible outer boundary), cytoplasm (intracellular fluid with organelles), and nucleus (DNA-containing control center).

  • What is the fluid mosaic model of the plasma membrane composed of?

    Phospholipids forming a lipid bilayer, cholesterol for rigidity, proteins for transport and communication, glycocalyx surface sugars, and cell junctions.

  • What are the main functions of the plasma membrane?

    Acts as a physical barrier, provides selective permeability, enables communication via proteins, and allows cell recognition through glycocalyx carbohydrates.

  • Describe the structure of phospholipids in the plasma membrane.

    Phospholipids have polar hydrophilic phosphate heads facing outward and nonpolar hydrophobic fatty acid tails facing inward, forming a bilayer.

  • What roles do membrane proteins play in the plasma membrane?

    They function as transporters, receptors for signal transduction, enzymes for metabolic pathways, cell recognition markers, anchors for cytoskeleton and extracellular matrix, and cell junction components.

  • What is the glycocalyx and its function?

    A carbohydrate-rich coating on the cell surface that acts as an identity marker for cell-to-cell recognition and helps the immune system distinguish self from nonself.

  • Name and describe the three types of cell junctions.

    Tight junctions: impermeable seals between cells.
    Desmosomes: anchoring junctions that resist mechanical stress.
    Gap junctions: channels allowing small molecules and electrical signals to pass between cells.

  • What is passive membrane transport and its types?

    Movement of substances across the membrane without energy, including simple diffusion, facilitated diffusion, and osmosis.

  • What factors influence the speed of diffusion?

    Concentration gradient, molecular size, and temperature.

  • Explain simple diffusion through the plasma membrane.

    Movement of small, nonpolar, lipid-soluble molecules directly through the phospholipid bilayer down their concentration gradient.

  • What is facilitated diffusion and how does it occur?

    Passive transport of large or polar molecules via carrier proteins or channel proteins down their concentration gradient.

  • Define osmosis in the context of membrane transport.

    Diffusion of water across a selectively permeable membrane through lipid bilayer or aquaporins, driven by solute concentration differences.

  • What is active membrane transport and when is it required?

    Transport requiring energy (ATP) to move substances against their concentration gradient or large molecules that cannot diffuse passively.

  • Describe primary active transport with an example.

    Energy from ATP hydrolysis directly powers transport proteins (pumps) to move ions, e.g., the sodium-potassium pump moves Na+ out and K+ into the cell.

  • What is secondary active transport (cotransport)?

    Uses energy stored in ion gradients created by primary active transport to move other substances against their gradient, e.g., Na+ moving in drags glucose into the cell.

  • What is vesicular transport and its main types?

    Transport of large particles or fluids in vesicles, including endocytosis (phagocytosis, pinocytosis, receptor-mediated) and exocytosis.

  • Explain the process of phagocytosis.

    Cell engulfs large particles by forming pseudopods around them, creating a phagosome for digestion, used by immune cells like macrophages.

  • What is the resting membrane potential (RMP)?

    Voltage difference across the plasma membrane, typically โ€“50 to โ€“100 mV, with the inside of the cell more negative relative to outside.

  • How is the resting membrane potential maintained?

    By the Na+-K+ pump actively ejecting 3 Na+ ions and bringing in 2 K+ ions, balancing diffusion and maintaining steady state.

  • What are the main components of the cytoplasm?

    Cytosol (fluid with proteins, salts, sugars), inclusions (insoluble molecules), and organelles (specialized structures).

  • What is the function of mitochondria?

    Produce most of the cell's ATP via aerobic respiration; have double membranes and their own DNA.

  • Differentiate between rough and smooth endoplasmic reticulum (ER).

    Rough ER has ribosomes and synthesizes proteins; smooth ER lacks ribosomes and is involved in lipid metabolism, detoxification, and calcium storage.

  • What is the role of the Golgi apparatus?

    Modifies, concentrates, and packages proteins and lipids received from the rough ER for transport.

  • Describe the cytoskeleton and its components.

    Network of rods providing cell structure and movement: microfilaments (strengthen surface), intermediate filaments (resist pulling), microtubules (shape and organelle placement).

  • What is the nucleus and its main structures?

    Largest organelle containing DNA; includes nuclear envelope, nucleoli (rRNA synthesis), and chromatin (DNA and proteins).

  • What are the phases of the cell cycle?

    Interphase (G1, S, G2 phases for growth and DNA replication) and mitotic phase (mitosis and cytokinesis for cell division).

  • What are the key steps in DNA replication during interphase?

    Uncoiling, separation of strands, assembly of new strands by DNA polymerase, and restoration by DNA ligase.

  • Outline the two main steps of protein synthesis.

    Transcription: DNA code copied to mRNA in nucleus.
    Translation: mRNA decoded to assemble polypeptides at ribosomes.