Cellular Physiology Flashcards
Total body water accounts for what percent of body weight
50-70%
Do females have more or less body water, and why
Females have less body water because they typically have more adipose tissue
how does total body water correlate with body fat
inversely
difference between ICF and ECF?
ICF is contained within the cells (2/3 of body water) and ECF is outside of cells (1/3)
ECF is divided into what two compartments? what are their definitions
plasma (fluid circulating in blood vessels- smaller) and intersticial fluid (fluid that actually bathes the cell)
amounts versus concentrations
An amount is like moles, osmoses, etc. A concentration is something like moles per liter or osmoses per liter.
a mole
6x10^23 molecules of a substance
Equivalent
The amount of charged solute and the number of moles of the solute multiplied by the valance.
How does KCl and CaCl2 dissociate in terms of equivalence
KCl dissociates into one equivalent of K and one equivalent of CL. CaCl2 dissolves into two equivalents of Ca (because of +2) and two equivalents of Cl (because there are two and each is (-) one).
Osmole versus osmolarity
Osmole is number of particles in which a solute dissociates, and osmolarity is concentration of particles in a solution
Principle of macroscopic electroneutrality
each compartment must have the same concentrations of positive and negative charges. Even when there are potential differences, there is a maintained balance across the bigger macroscopic
How are the concentrations of sodium and potassium across the membrane
more sodium outside, more potassium inside
Na-K ATPase pump
actively pumps Na out of the cell (ICF - ECF) and pumps K into the cell (ECF - ICF). Needs ATP because it pumps them against their electrochemical gradient. RESPONSIBLE FOR LOW INTRACELLULAR NA AND HIGH INTRACELLULAR K
There is also a Ca ATPase pump
Ca maintained at a lower level in the cell. Pumps against its electrochemical gradient.
What does the composition of the ICF and ECF affect?
- resting membrane potential of a nerve and muscle (dependent on K across the membrane).
- upstroke of an action potential because of the Na concentrations
- Excitation-coupling coupling in muscles because of Ca
- Absorption of essential nutrients
Gibbs Dinnan Ratio
ratio of the plasma concentration to the interstitial fluids.
What kinds of substances are cell membranes highly permeable to?
Lipid soluble substances like carbon dioxide, oxygen, fatty acids, steroid hormones.
What kinds of substances have low membrane permeability
water soluble, like ions, glucose, amino acids
What kinds of things are the protein components of the cell membrane
transporters, enzymes, hormone receptors, cell surface antigens and ion and water channels
The glycerol backbone is ____ while the fatty acid tails are ____.
hydrophilic (water soluble) and hydroponics (water insoluble).
intergral proteins
embedded in and anchored to the cell membrane by hydrophobic interactions. Usually cross the membrane, and touch the ECF and ICF. Like the Na-K ATPase pumps.
Peripheral Membrane Proteins
Not embedded in the membrane and not covertly bound to the membrane components. LOOSELY attached to either the ECF and ICF. electrostatic interactions.
Whats the difference between the downhill and uphill grandients?
the downhill requires no energy and can be done by either diffusion (simple of facilitated). Uphill requires energy! active transport (primary or secondary)
Difference between primary and secondary active transport
primary requires a direct source of energy, and secondary is an indirect source
what are examples of carrier mediated transport
facilitated diffusion, and all active transport. Meaning there are three components they all have
- saturation: carrier proteins have a limited number of binding sites for a solute (transport maximum).
- Stereospecificity: the binding sites on these transport proteins are specific to certain types or strains of a molecule (g- vs l- glucose).
- Competition: while they are specific, they may bind chemically related proteins (like d-glucose and d-galactose)
Simple Diffusion
net diffusion, goes from high to low until they are equal. Driving net force, the larger the concentration difference, the greater the driving force, and the greater the net diffusion
partition coefficient (K)
solubility of a solute in oil versus the solubility in water. For example, the K of non polar solutes are higher because they are soluble in oil. Then, polar molecules, insoluble in oil, low partition coefficient (K).
k = Conc. oil / Conc. water
Diffusion coefficient
based on size. Small solutes in non viscous solutions have the highest diffusion coefficient and diffuse most readily.
Thickness of the membrane
the thicker the membrane, the longer it takes to diffuse then the lower the rate of diffusion.
Surface Area
The larger the surface area, the greater the rate of diffusion.
Permeability includes…
the partition coefficient, the diffusion coefficient, and the membrane thickness.