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Anatomy & Physiology: The Cell and Cellular Processes

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Termini in questo insieme (30)

  • What are the three basic components of most animal cells?

    Plasma membrane, cytoplasm (including cytosol, organelles, cytoskeleton), and nucleus.

  • What are the main functions of the plasma membrane?

    Physically isolates the cell, provides structural support, communicates with other cells, regulates transport, and identifies the cell.

  • What is the cytosol and its role in the cell?

    Watery gel inside the cell containing proteins, solutes, and RNA; site of many critical cellular processes.

  • Describe the structure of the phospholipid bilayer.

    Composed of polar hydrophilic phosphate heads facing water and nonpolar hydrophobic fatty acid tails facing inward, forming a barrier between extracellular fluid and cytosol.

  • What is the Fluid Mosaic Model of the plasma membrane?

    The plasma membrane is a dynamic mosaic of phospholipids, proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates that move laterally, providing fluidity and diverse functions.

  • Name the two main types of membrane proteins based on location.

    Integral proteins span the membrane; peripheral proteins are found on one side of the membrane.

  • List the functional types of membrane proteins.

    Channels, carriers, receptors, enzymes, structural support proteins, and linker proteins.

  • What is the role of the ACE2 receptor in COVID-19 infection?

    ACE2 is an integral membrane protein that SARS-CoV-2 spike protein binds to, allowing viral entry into cells.

  • Define passive transport and its types across the plasma membrane.

    Movement of substances without energy: includes simple diffusion, facilitated diffusion, and osmosis.

  • What is osmosis and how does it occur?

    Movement of water across a selectively permeable membrane from lower to higher solute concentration, via aquaporins or between phospholipids.

  • Explain tonicity and its effects on cells.

    Comparison of solute concentrations between two solutions affecting cell volume: isotonic (no change), hypertonic (cell shrinks), hypotonic (cell swells).

  • What is active transport and how does it differ from passive transport?

    Active transport requires ATP to move solutes against their concentration gradient, unlike passive transport which requires no energy.

  • Describe the Sodium-Potassium Pump function.

    Moves 3 sodium ions out and 2 potassium ions into the cell against their gradients using ATP, maintaining essential ion gradients.

  • What is secondary active transport?

    Uses energy from a primary active transport-created gradient to move another substance against its gradient, often coupled with passive transport.

  • What are vesicular transport processes?

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

  • What is the function of mitochondria?

    Produce most of the cell's ATP through oxidative catabolism; contain their own DNA and enzymes.

  • What roles do peroxisomes play in the cell?

    Oxidize toxic substances, break down fatty acids, and synthesize certain phospholipids.

  • What is the function of ribosomes?

    Sites of protein synthesis; composed of rRNA and proteins; can be free or bound to membranes.

  • Describe the rough and smooth endoplasmic reticulum functions.

    Rough ER folds and modifies proteins; smooth ER stores calcium, detoxifies substances, and synthesizes lipids.

  • What is the role of the Golgi apparatus?

    Modifies, sorts, and packages proteins and lipids from the ER for transport or secretion.

  • What are lysosomes and their function?

    Membrane-bound sacs with digestive enzymes that degrade macromolecules, worn organelles, and pathogens.

  • Name the three types of cytoskeletal filaments and their functions.

    Actin filaments (support and movement), intermediate filaments (mechanical strength), microtubules (organelle transport and cell shape).

  • What are microvilli, cilia, and flagella?

    Microvilli increase surface area; cilia move substances across cell surfaces; flagella propel whole cells.

  • What is the nucleus and its main components?

    Controls cell activities; contains DNA, nuclear envelope, nucleoplasm, and nucleolus for ribosome assembly.

  • How is DNA organized in the nucleus?

    DNA coils around histones forming chromatin; condenses into chromosomes during cell division.

  • What are the main steps of protein synthesis?

    Transcription (DNA to mRNA), translation (mRNA to polypeptide), and posttranslational modification (folding and processing).

  • What is the cell cycle and its phases?

    Ordered events of cell growth and division: interphase (G1, S, G2) and M phase (mitosis and cytokinesis).

  • What happens during mitosis?

    Chromosomes condense, align, separate, and the cell divides into two identical daughter cells.

  • How is cell division regulated and what is apoptosis?

    Checkpoints monitor division; apoptosis is programmed cell death to remove damaged or unneeded cells.

  • What distinguishes benign from malignant tumors?

    Benign tumors remain localized; malignant tumors invade tissues and can metastasize.