Capillaries I Flashcards
What 2 things does metabolism of cells create?
- Metabolism creates a need for nutrient and gaseous exchange, need to bring in oxygen, amino acids etc and remove carbon dioxide and urea.
- The metabolism going on in cells is generating concentration gradients that facilitate this movement
What is the issue with metabolism
The transport of nutrients and gas exchange across the barriers… membranes are a barrier to movement
Describe the basic structure of the cell membrane
- Consists of two layers of amphipathic phospholipids.
- Phosphate head is polar (hydrophilic).
- Fatty acid tails is non-polar (hydrophobic).
- Form bilayers in solution.
What are the roles of the cell membrane?
- Provide support and protection
- Cell-to-cell recognition – eg. immune system
- Controls what enters or leaves the cell – e.g. ion movement in nerves
- Regulates cell function – eg. Insulin-mediated glucose uptake
- They are incredibly important in allowing us to recognise different kinds of cells, regulating what enters or leaves, allow hormones and neurotransmitters to work…..providing support and protection.
Describe the basic principles of diffusion, passive and active
Passive diffusion:
- Movement of molecules down a concentration gradient.
- Does not require energy
- Conc/ Osmotic/ Pressure/ electrical
- Simple e.g CO2/ O2 or facilitated (ions and glucose)
Active Transport:
- Movement of molecules against a concentration gradient
- Requires energy (ATP)
- ATP- dependant pumps, exocytosis and endocytosis
Give and describe some examples of passive transport
Diffusion:
- Concentration gradient
- O2 uptake from the lungs
- Dissolved solutes
Convection:
- Pressure gradient
- Movement of blood from heart to blood vessel
Osmosis
- Osmotic pressure gradient
- e.g uptake of water into cells
Electrochemical flux:
- Electrical and concentration gradient
- Ion flow across membranes
Give a brief overview of Solute and fluid exchange occur at capillaries.
What is solute/ fluid exchange and describe the capillaries
Solute exchange relies on diffusion, for example glucose transport
Fluid exchange is the movement of water which contains molecules, for example glucose
• Connect terminal arterioles to venules - extension of inner lining of arterioles.
• Smallest diameter blood vessels endothelium, 1 cell thick, semi-permeable.
• Found near every cell in the body but higher density in highly active tissue (muscles, liver, heart, kidney, brain etc)
• Solute exchange (passive diffusion): electrolytes, O2, glucose, amino acids, hormones, drugs
• Fluid exchange along pressure gradients. Regulation of plasma and interstitial fluid volumes (next lecture).
What are the properties of passive diffusion
Concentration, rate and distance
What are the properties of solutes and membranes
Ficks Law
Do the properties of capillaries affect movement?
Yes
What do these factors form when you combine them?
Concept of permeability - how easily substances can pass through
Why does diffusion work for only short distances?
Time taken (t) for one randomly moving molecule to move a net distance (x) in one specific direction increases with the distance squared.
D = diffusion coefficient for molecule within the medium eg. D for O2 in water and O2 in air are different
Describe the properties of the solute that affect transport
Properties of the solute
• Concentration gradient
• Size of the solute
• Lipid solubility of solute (lipophilic, lipophobic nature)
Describe the properties of membranes that affect transport
Properties of the membrane • Membrane thickness/composition • Aqueous pores in the membrane • Carrier-mediated transport • Active transport mechanisms
What does Ficks Law state?
State the equation
How much solute is moved per unit time = solute movement = mass per unit time (Js)
On image
Has a negative value because it is flowing down a concentration gradient