Active cellular physiology Flashcards
1
Q
What is diffusion?
A
The movement of molecules from high to low concentration.
2
Q
What is osmosis?
A
The movement of water across a membrane to balance solute concentration.
3
Q
How is osmosis different from diffusion?
A
Osmosis specifically involves water movement across a semipermeable membrane.
4
Q
What are the three states of tonicity?
A
Isotonic, hypertonic, and hypotonic.
5
Q
What happens to a cell in an isotonic solution?
A
No net movement of water; the cell remains stable.
6
Q
What happens to a cell in a hypertonic solution?
A
Water moves out of the cell, causing it to shrink.
7
Q
What happens to a cell in a hypotonic solution?
A
Water moves into the cell, causing it to swell.
