Cell Function Flashcards
(64 cards)
Internal substances
Substances required for the cell functioning
External substances
Outside of the cell, waste products and cellular products move into.
Cells need substances
Gases (Oxygen), nutrients (sugars), and water which is the main solvent in cells.
Movement of molecules is based on
Based on Molecule:
Size: Smaller molecules can move more quickly
Electrical charge: Such as sodium and potassium, not very soluble in lipids and hence have low membrane permeability.
Lipid solubility: If they are hydrophilic then it is hard to cross membrane. Lipid tails enhance the movement of lipid soluble substances.
Water is charged but moves via hydrophilic aqua pores.
Molecules with low permeability rely on carrier proteins.
Diffusion
Net movement of any molecule from high concentration to low concentration in order to reach equilibrium(No higher movement in any direction)
Done along the concentration gradient.
If higher difference in concentration then the gradient will be steeper.
Heat raises the rate of diffusion.
Diffusion across a cell membrane
Small uncharged particles, move easily via diffusion.
Such as oxygen which is used variously throughout the cell so there is higher concentration outside the cell.
Facilitated Diffusion
Larger molecules such as glucose and charged negative particles have to go through carrier and channel proteins.
Osmosis
Water moving through the cell membrane. Net movement of solvent particles from high concentration to low concentration.
Solution
Solute dissolves in a solvent. Amount of solute gives concentration. A concentrated solute gives low water. A diluted substances have high water concentration. Water is not lipid soluble and goes through acqua pores.
Water in cell
When more water moves into the cell it swells. If the opposite happens it shrinks. Pressure called osmotic pressure. The more water=higher osmotic pressure.
Classification of environment
If both the internal and external environment of cell have equal solute and solvent then both sides are isotonic
If one side has lower solute and higher water than it is hypotonic.
If one side has high solute and lower water than it is hypertonic.
Osmosis in animal cells
Unicellular eukaryotic can burth in hypotonic external environment (When water is greater). To combat this animal cells are covered by isotonic fluid which keeps water level stable for proper cell function.
Osmosis in plant cells
Unlike animal cells. Plant cells do not burst.
PLant cells have large fluid filled vacuoles which are a semipermeable wall.
Animal cell in different external conditions in relation to osmosis
Isotonic:
The exchange is equal, the cell is normal
Hypotonic: Diluted externally, more coming in, lysed (Cell explodes)
Hypertonic: Concentration external condition, more going out, cell become shriveled.
Different plant cell conditions
isotonic: Conditions are equal the cell is normal.
Hypotonic: Dilute in external conditions, more coming in, turgid.
Hypertonic: Concentrated externalizing, high amount going out, flaccid.
Osmosis Vs Diffusion
Active transport
Movement of material across membrane that requires the use of ATP (energy).
Against the concentration gradient. Cells control the process. Gain nutrients and remove cellular waste.
Endocytosis
Large particle moves into the cell. Cell engulfs it.
Phagocytosis=solid
Phagocytosis= liquid
Endocytosis
Cell product+Waste moves out of cell
Membrane bound vesicles move to membrane.
Vesicle membrane transforms into cell membrane.
Factors affecting rate of exchange:
Chemical factors
Chemical properties affect permeability
Hydrophilic charged particles such as sodium require protein channels.
Factors affecting rate of exchange: Physical factors
Size and shape, small molecules diffuse easily.
Very large molecules require exo and endocytosis.
Factors affecting rate of exchange: Concentration gradient
If CG is steep= higher diffusion
When CG is equilibrium than there is no movement (net)
Plant cells:
Cytoplasm streaming: Move around organelles and cytosol in cell so that area of the cell has constant low concentration.
Factors affecting rate of exchange: Surface area to volume
Higher SA:V in smaller cells → Smaller cells have a greater surface area relative to their volume, allowing faster exchange of nutrients and waste.
Lower SA:V in larger cells → As cells grow, their volume increases faster than their surface area, reducing efficiency in substance exchange.
Size limits cell function → When a cell becomes too large to sustain efficient exchange, it often divides to maintain optimal functioning.
CR: Oxygen
In organic, 2 oxygen atoms, used by living organism in aerobic cellular respiration and is product of photosynthesis.