Cell Transport Flashcards

Cell transport refers to the various mechanisms and processes that cells use to move substances across their membranes, essential for maintaining homeostasis, acquiring nutrients, and expelling waste products.

The two main types of cell transport are passive transport and active transport.

Passive transport is a biological process that involves the movement of molecules across cell membranes without the need for energy input, relying on the concentration gradient.

Examples of passive transport include diffusion, osmosis, and facilitated diffusion.

Active transport is a biological process where cells move molecules across their membranes against a concentration gradient, requiring energy, typically in the form of ATP.

Examples of active transport include the sodium-potassium pump and endocytosis.

Passive transport does not require energy and moves substances down their concentration gradient, while active transport requires energy to move substances against their gradient.

A concentration gradient refers to the gradual change in the concentration of solutes in a solution as a function of distance, often describing the difference in concentration across a cell membrane.

Osmosis is a specific type of diffusion that refers to the movement of water molecules through a selectively permeable membrane.

ATP stands for adenosine triphosphate, a molecule that carries energy within cells and is often referred to as the 'energy currency' of the cell.

ATP is used to power various cellular processes, such as muscle contraction, nerve impulse propagation, and chemical synthesis.

The sodium-potassium pump is a vital membrane protein that actively transports sodium ions out of the cell and potassium ions into the cell, maintaining the electrochemical gradient.

Endocytosis is a cellular process in which substances are brought into the cell by engulfing external materials, forming a vesicle.

The types of endocytosis include phagocytosis, pinocytosis, and receptor-mediated endocytosis.

Concentration gradients are crucial for processes like diffusion and active transport, allowing substances to move in and out of cells.

Facilitated diffusion is a type of passive transport that uses transport proteins to help larger or polar molecules cross the membrane.

ATP is essential for storing and transferring energy within cells, enabling various biological processes necessary for life.

ATP is continuously regenerated from ADP and inorganic phosphate through cellular respiration and photosynthesis.

Transport proteins facilitate the movement of molecules across the cell membrane, either passively or actively.

Microtubules serve as tracks for the transport of membrane-bound vesicles and organelles, utilizing motor proteins.

Receptor-mediated endocytosis is a selective process where specific molecules are internalized after binding to receptors on the cell surface.

Maintaining homeostasis is crucial for the proper functioning of cells, allowing them to regulate their internal environment and respond to external changes.

During exocytosis, the cell membrane fuses with vesicles to release substances out of the cell.

ATP synthase is an enzyme that synthesizes ATP from ADP and inorganic phosphate during cellular respiration and photosynthesis.