Cell Physiology (AI) Flashcards
What is the primary function of the cell membrane?
To protect the cell and regulate what enters and exits.
True or False: The cell membrane is a rigid structure.
False
Fill in the blank: The cell membrane is primarily composed of __________.
phospholipids
What model describes the structure of the cell membrane?
Fluid mosaic model
What are the two main components of phospholipids?
Hydrophilic head and hydrophobic tails
Which type of proteins are embedded in the lipid bilayer?
Integral proteins
True or False: Cholesterol is found in the cell membrane.
True
What is the role of cholesterol in the cell membrane?
To maintain membrane fluidity and stability.
What type of transport requires energy to move substances across the membrane?
Active transport
Fill in the blank: __________ transport does not require energy.
Passive
What is the process called when a cell takes in large particles?
Phagocytosis
Which component of the membrane facilitates cell recognition?
Glycoproteins
What is the primary function of membrane proteins?
Transport, signaling, and structural support.
What is osmosis?
The diffusion of water across a selectively permeable membrane.
True or False: The cell membrane is impermeable to all substances.
False
What are the differences between channel proteins and carrier proteins?
Channel proteins provide a passageway for ions, while carrier proteins change shape to transport substances.
What is the main characteristic of a selectively permeable membrane?
It allows certain molecules to pass while blocking others.
What is the role of aquaporins in the cell membrane?
To facilitate the transport of water.
Fill in the blank: __________ is the movement of molecules from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration.
Diffusion
What is the term for the balance of solute concentrations across a membrane?
Equilibrium
What is the difference between hypertonic, hypotonic, and isotonic solutions?
Hypertonic has higher solute concentration, hypotonic has lower, isotonic has equal.
True or False: Membrane fluidity can be affected by temperature.
True
What is facilitated diffusion?
The process of passive transport aided by proteins.
What role do receptor proteins play in the cell membrane?
They bind to signaling molecules and initiate a response.
What is endocytosis?
The process by which cells engulf substances from the outside environment.
Fill in the blank: The __________ serves as a barrier to protect the internal environment of the cell.
cell membrane
What is the significance of membrane potential?
It is crucial for the function of nerve and muscle cells.
What are lipid rafts?
Microdomains in the membrane that organize proteins and lipids.
What type of molecules can easily pass through the lipid bilayer?
Small nonpolar molecules.
True or False: All membrane proteins are mobile within the lipid bilayer.
False
What is the main purpose of exocytosis?
To release substances from the cell.
What is the role of surface carbohydrates in the cell membrane?
They are involved in cell recognition and signaling.
Fill in the blank: The __________ provides structural support to the cell membrane.
cytoskeleton
What is a concentration gradient?
A difference in the concentration of a substance across a space.
What is the role of transport proteins?
To assist in the movement of substances across the membrane.
What does the term ‘permeability’ refer to in the context of membranes?
The ability of a membrane to allow substances to pass through.
True or False: The lipid bilayer is symmetrical.
False
What is the function of integrins in the cell membrane?
To connect the extracellular matrix to the cytoskeleton.
What is the main component of the extracellular matrix?
Proteins and carbohydrates.
Fill in the blank: __________ proteins span the entire membrane and are involved in transport.
Transmembrane
What is the function of peripheral proteins?
To provide structural support and assist in signaling.
What happens to a cell in a hypertonic solution?
It shrinks due to water leaving the cell.
What is the role of signal transduction in cell membranes?
To convert external signals into cellular responses.
What type of transport involves vesicles?
Bulk transport
True or False: Membrane proteins can only perform one function.
False
What is the significance of the glycocalyx?
It protects the cell and aids in cell recognition.
What is passive transport?
The movement of molecules across a membrane without energy input.
Fill in the blank: The __________ model describes the dynamic nature of the cell membrane.
fluid mosaic
