Cell Membrane and Transport

Front

What is the cell membrane?

Back

The cell membrane is a biological membrane that separates and protects the interior of all cells from the external environment. It is composed of a phospholipid bilayer with embedded proteins.

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What is a hypertonic solution?

Back

A hypertonic solution is one where the concentration of solutes outside the cell is greater than inside the cell, causing water to move out of the cell, leading to cell shrinkage.

Front

What is a hypotonic solution?

Back

A hypotonic solution is one where the concentration of solutes outside the cell is lower than inside the cell, causing water to move into the cell, which may lead to cell swelling or bursting.

Front

What is isotonic solution?

Back

An isotonic solution is one where the concentration of solutes is equal inside and outside the cell, resulting in no net movement of water across the cell membrane.

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What are the two types of passive transport?

Back

The two types of passive transport are osmosis (the movement of water across a membrane) and diffusion (the movement of solutes from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration).

Front

What is osmosis?

Back

Osmosis is the diffusion of water across a selectively permeable membrane from an area of lower solute concentration to an area of higher solute concentration.

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What is diffusion?

Back

Diffusion is the process by which molecules spread from areas of high concentration to areas of low concentration until equilibrium is reached.

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What are phospholipids?

Back

Phospholipids are molecules that make up the cell membrane, consisting of a hydrophilic (water-attracting) 'head' and two hydrophobic (water-repelling) 'tails'.

Front

What role do proteins play in the cell membrane?

Back

Proteins embedded in the cell membrane assist in various functions such as transport, acting as channels or carriers, and facilitating communication between the cell and its environment.

Front

What is active transport?

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Active transport is the movement of molecules across a cell membrane from a region of lower concentration to a region of higher concentration, requiring energy (ATP).