WEEK 2 BIOSCIENCE - CELLS, TISSUES AND SKIN Flashcards
Cytoplasm
- watery space between the plasma membrane and the nucleus
- composed of cytosol or ICF
- contains cellular organelles
- contains dissolved proteins and nutrients
Nucleus
- largest organelle
- houses DNA
- DNA contains the instructions for the cell, in particular, protein synthesis
Ribosomes
- site of protein synthesis
- free ribosomes: floating in cytosol produce proteins for use inside the cell
- membrane-bound ribosomes: attached to endoplasmic reticulum produce proteins for transport
Endoplasmic reticulum
- interconnected tubes continuous with the nuclear envelop
- functions: synthesis, storage, transport, detoxification
Rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER)
- studded with ribosomes
- proteins produced by ribosomes on RER are packaged and exported out of the cell
Smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER)
- no ribosomes attached
- synthesis of lipids, cholesterol and steroid-based hormones
- involved in detoxification
- storage of calcium ions
Mitochondria
- bean-shaped organelle
- enzymes on the surface of the inner membrane
- function: cellular respiration -> releases energy in the form of ATP
Golgi apparatus
- consists of stacks of flattened sacs
- functions: modify, concentrate and packages proteins and lipids
- forms vesicles and distributes then: within the cell, move and become inserted within the plasma membrane, move to the plasma membrane for the content to be exported out of the cell via exocytosis
Lysosomes
- membrane-enclosed spheres (sacs)
- contains lysosomal enzymes
- functions: digest biological material, disposes of invading bacteria, viruses and toxins, recycles molecules
the plasma membrane
- the thin flexible boundary between the ICF and ECF (not a solid structure)
- selectively permeable: only allows certain substances through
- allows for different chemical compositions between ICF and ECF to maintain homeostasis and create optimal working conditions for the cell
phospholipid molecule
- hydrophillic head points towards the water
- hydrophobic lipid tail points away from the water
additional structures of the plasma membrane
- phospholipids
- proteins (integral and peripheral)
- cholesterol
- carbohydrates
peripheral proteins
- not embedded throughout the plasma membrane
- attach loosely to integral proteins or float free
- functions: plasma membrane support, enzymes or motor functions
integral proteins
- embedded within the plasma membrane and span the entire membrane
- classified as channels or carriers for the transport of substances
- act as enzymes or receptors
- include carrier and channel proteins
- substance specific
- required within the plasma membrane to transport substances that need t pass through the plasma membrane but cannot pass directly through the lipid core b/c they are water-soluble or too large
Channel proteins
- small lipid insoluble substances
- leakage channels: always open at both ends
- gated channels: open at one end and can open and close at the other end -> three types = voltage, mechanical and chemical
Carrier proteins
-transform shape to allow substances to pass
- substances that use carrier protein: lipid insoluble substances too large to use channel proteins
e.g. substances that use carrier proteins: glucose and amino acids
concentration gradient
the difference in concentration of a particular substance between 2 different areas
diffusion
the movement of a substance from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration
- substances move in a net direction to achieve equilibrium
factors that affect the rate of diffusion
- concentration gradient
- size of the substance
- temperature
passive transport
- requires no energy
- substances move down a concentration gradient
- includes simple diffusion, facilitated diffusion and osmosis
active transport
- requires energy ATP
- substances move up concentration gradient
- includes primary active transport with Na+/K+ ATPase pump
facilitated diffusion
- the assisted transport of large or lipid insoluble substances, from an area of high concentration to low concentration, across a plasma membrane, using an integral protein
- requires an integral protein to facilitate the movement
- large or lipid-insoluble substances
osmosis
the net diffusion of water through a selectively permeable membrane from an area of more water (less solutes) to an area of less water (more solutes) when the solute can not pass through the membrane (impermeable)
tonicity
is the ability of a solution to affect the shape of a cell by altering the cells internal water volume (ICF)