AP Biology Cell Structure and Function Review

Front

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 does it mean for a membrane to be semipermeable?

Back

A semipermeable membrane allows certain substances to pass through while blocking others, maintaining the internal environment of the cell.

Front

Which type of molecules can easily pass through the cell membrane?

Back

Small, nonpolar molecules like oxygen can easily pass through the cell membrane due to their ability to diffuse through the lipid bilayer.

Front

What is the endosymbiotic theory?

Back

The endosymbiotic theory suggests that eukaryotic cells evolved from prokaryotic cells that were engulfed by ancestral cells, leading to the formation of membrane-bound organelles.

Front

What is the role of the hydrophilic head in phospholipids?

Back

The hydrophilic head interacts with water, allowing phospholipids to form a bilayer in cell membranes.

Front

What is the significance of the hydrophobic tails in phospholipids?

Back

The hydrophobic tails repel water, creating a barrier that separates the internal environment of the cell from the external environment.

Front

What is the function of the cell membrane?

Back

The cell membrane protects the cell, provides structure, and regulates the movement of substances in and out of the cell.

Front

What is diffusion?

Back

Diffusion is the process by which molecules move 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 semipermeable membrane.

Front

What are integral proteins?

Back

Integral proteins are embedded in the cell membrane and play roles in transport, acting as channels or carriers for molecules.