Anatomy & Physiology: Exam Chapter 3
This flashcard set highlights the major functions common to all cells, such as energy use, molecule synthesis, communication, reproduction, and inheritance. These essential activities support life and enable cells to grow, interact, and replicate.
What are the common cellular functions?
Cell metabolism / energy use
Synthesis of molecules
Communication
Reproduction
Inheritance
Key Terms
What are the common cellular functions?
Cell metabolism / energy use
Synthesis of molecules
Communication
Reproduction
Inheritance
What are the functions of the plasma membrane?
Boundary - separates intracellular/extracellular
Determines what moves into/out of cell...
What is membrane potential?
The charge difference across the plasma membrane. Outside is more positively charged than inside due to gathering of ion...
What is the lipid bilayer?
A double layer of phospholipid molecules. Have polar (hydrophilic) head and nonpolar (hydrophobic) tail.
Describe the glycocalyx.
A collection of glycolipids (carb + lipid), glycoproteins (carb + protein) and carbohydrates on the outer surface of the...
What does hydrophilic mean?
Water loving. Heads of lipids are positively charged and exposed to extracellular and intracellular fluids of cell.
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| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
What are the common cellular functions? | Cell metabolism / energy use Synthesis of molecules Communication Reproduction Inheritance |
What are the functions of the plasma membrane? | Boundary - separates intracellular/extracellular Determines what moves into/out of cells |
What is membrane potential? | The charge difference across the plasma membrane. Outside is more positively charged than inside due to gathering of ions on plasma membrane. |
What is the lipid bilayer? | A double layer of phospholipid molecules. Have polar (hydrophilic) head and nonpolar (hydrophobic) tail. |
Describe the glycocalyx. | A collection of glycolipids (carb + lipid), glycoproteins (carb + protein) and carbohydrates on the outer surface of the PM (plasma membrane). |
What does hydrophilic mean? | Water loving. Heads of lipids are positively charged and exposed to extracellular and intracellular fluids of cell. |
What does hydrophobic mean? | Water fearing. Tails face the interior of the plasma membrane. |
What is cholesterol’s function inside the plasma membrane? | Interspersed among phospholipids and accounts for 1/3 total lipids in plasma membrane. |
What does the fluid nature of the phospholipid bilayer allow for? | Distribution of molecules in the membrane. |
What are the two major types of membrane proteins? | Integral (intrinsic) - penetrates deeply into lipid bilayer Peripheral (extrinsic) - attached to either inner/outer surfaces of lipid bilayer |
What are the five types of membrane proteins? | Marker molecules Attachment proteins Transport proteins Receptor proteins Enzymes |
Where are marker molecules located? What is their function? | Located on cell surface. Allows cells to identify other molecules/cells. Usually glycoproteins or glycolipids |
What is the function of attachment proteins? | Allow cells to attach to each other or to extracellular molecules. Cadherins: cells to other cells |
What are the three types of channel proteins? | Non-gated: always open Ligand-gated: open/closed in response to chemical signals |
What are carrier proteins? | Transporters. Uniporters - moves one particle |
What are the four ways that molecules can pass through the plasma membrane? | Diffusion |
What is the difference between diffusion and osmosis? | Diffusion - movement of solutes from high concentration to low concentration. Osmosis - diffusion of solvent (water) across a selectively permeable membrane (allows water but not all solutes in water). |
What is osmotic pressure? | The force required to prevent water from moving across a SP membrane. Isosmotic - same concentration of solutes/same pressure Hyperosmotic - greater concentration of solute particles, higher osmotic pressure. Hypoosmotic - lesser concentration of solute particles, lower osmotic pressure (more dilute solution) |
What are the three types of tonicity of cells? | Isotonic - cell placed in solution, neither shirnks nor swells Hypertonic - cell placed in, water moves OUT, cell shrinks (crenation) Hypotonic - cell placed in, water moves INTO cell and cell bursts (lysis) IMPORTANT FOR FLUID ADMINISTRATION IN DEHYDRATED PATIENTS. |
What is mediated transport? | Process by which transport proteins mediate or assist, movement of large water soluble molecules or electrically charged molecules/ions across plasma membrane. |
What are the three characteristics of mediated transport? | Specificity - each transport protein binds to/transports only one ion/molecule Competition - result of similar molecules binding to transport protein Saturation - rate of movement of molecules across membrane is limited by number of available transport proteins |
What is the difference between passive and active transport? | Passive transport - cell does not expend metabolic energy. (diffusion, osmosis, facilitated diffusion) Active transport - cell expends metabolic energy. (can move substances from low to high with ATP and high to low) |
What is facilitated diffusion? | A carrier-mediated or channel-mediated passive membrane transport process that moves substances into or out of cells from high to low. Does not require ATP. |
What is secondary active transport? | Active transport of an ion out of a cell from low to high concentration. The tendency for the inos to move back provides energy necessary to move a different ion or other molecule into the cell. Moves by symport or antiport. Sodium/Potassium or glucose movement. |
What is the difference between endocytosis and exocytosis? | Endocytosis - uptake of material into cell by formation of a vesicle. PM wraps around particle/droplet and fuses so the membrane "eats" the particle/droplet. Exocytosis - secretions that accumulate within vesicles cause these vesicles to fuse to the PM and the vesicle contents are expelled from cell. |
What is the cytoplasm? | Cellular material outside the nucleus but inside plasma membrane. Composed of cytosol, cytoskeleton, cytoplasmic inclusions and organelles. |
What is cytosol? | Fluid portion of cytoplasm. Contains cytoskeleton/cytoplasmic inclusions. |
What is the cytoskeleton? | Supports the cell and holds nucleus and other organelles in place. Responsible for allowing movement of cell organelles and changes in cell shape. |
What is the cytoskeleton made of? | Microtubules - internal scaffolding, assist with transport/cell division Actin filaments - offers support, supports microvilli, helps with contractibility/movement Intermediate filaments - offer mechanical strength to cells |
What are cytoplasmic inclusions? | Aggregates of chemicals either produced or taken in by cell. Includes chemicals for energy storage, pigmentation or for transporting other molecules. |
What is the nucleus? | Large, membrane-bound structure near center of cell. Houses majority of DNA - organized into structures called chromosomes. Nucleoplasm - cytoplasm of nucleus |
What is a chromosome? | Fibrous structures of DNA and protein called chromatin. Chromatids joined together by centromere and become a chromosome. |
What is the ribosome? | Site of protein synthesis. FREE or ATTACHED (to ER) |
What is the endoplasmic reticulum? | (makes packages) Consists of broad, flat interconnected sacs/tubules - cisternae - separate from rest of cytoplasm. Rough ER - ribosomes attached; protein production |
What is the golgi apparatus? | (ships packages) Packaging/distribution center for proteins/lipids manufactured by ER. Create lysosomes - membrane bound vesicles that may include hydrolytic enzymes that function as digestive enzymes. |
What is the mitochondria? | POWERHOUSE! Provides energy for cell with ATP synthesis. Inner foldings - cristae…make up the matrix. |
What are the centrioles and spindle fibers? | Located close to nucleus in centrosome - specialized zone for microtubule formation. Centrioles - move to poles before cell division and organize spindle cell fibers. Spindle cell fibers - bind to chromosomes to facilitate movement of chromosomes toward two centromeres. |
What are the cilia? | Structures that project from the surface of cells and are capable of movement. 1-1000's per cell. |
What is the flagella? | Longer cilia - sperm cells are only human cells that possess flagella. One per cell. |
What are the microvilli? | Extension of plasma membrane that increases surface area. Not used for movement. Much smaller than cilia. |
What are genes? | Functional units of hereditary (transmission of traits from parents to offspring) |
What is gene expression? | Production of proteins from information stored in DNA. |
What is gene regulation? | All nucleated cells (except germ cells) have full complement of DNA. During development, differentiation occurs and some segments are turned off. |
What is transcription? | "copying the recipe" Synthesis of types of RNA based on DNA sequence. One DNA strand serves as template for transcription. |
What is translation? | "making the cake" Synthesis of a protein at the ribosome in response to codons of mRNA. |
Explain how genetic code works. | The sequence of bases on a DNA strand. |
What are the phases of a cell's life? | Interphase - 90% of time | Mitosis - 10% of time |
What happens in interphase? | G1 (1st gap phase) - cell carries out routine metabolic activities |
What happens in mitosis? | Prophase: chromatin condenses and forms mitotic chromosomes |
What is cytokinesis? | Occurs after mitosis - separation of cytoplasm between two new cells. |
What is meiosis? | A type of cell division specialized for sexual reproduction. One cell undergoes two divisions to produce four genetically different daughter cells. One homolog from each homologous pair. Diploid (2 chromosomes: 2n) - first division - 2 cells |
What is the difference between a genetic disorder and a birth defect? | Genetic disorder is an abnormality in DNA. A birth defect is due to developmental problems. |
What causes birth defects? | Teratogens (radiation, drugs, alcohol, etc.) | Do not cause abnormalities in DNA. |
What causes genetic disorders? | Mutagenes - agents that cause mutations | Oncogenes - DNA replication on steroids (some genetic and some from exposure to carcinogens) |
What is a carcinogen? | Anything that increases the risk of cancer. |