Cell Membrane

Front 1

Diffusion

Back 1

the process by which molecules intermingle as a result of their kinetic energy of random

motion

Front 2

Osmosis

Back 2

the spontaneous net movement of solvent molecules through a semi-permeable membrane into a region of higher solute concentration

Front 3

Equilibrium

Back 3

The condition in which all acting influences are balanced or canceled by equal opposing forces, resulting in a stable system.

Front 4

Isotonic

Back 4

two solutions having the same osmotic pressure across a semipermeable membrane

Front 5

Hypertonic

Back 5

having a higher osmotic pressure than a particular fluid, typically a body fluid or intracellular fluid

Front 6

Hypotonic

Back 6

any solution that has a lower osmotic pressure than another solution

Front 7

Facilitated diffusion

Back 7

process of spontaneous passive transport (as opposed to active transport) of molecules or ions across a biological membrane via specific transmembrane integral proteins

Front 8

Active transport

Back 8

movement of molecules across a cell membrane in the direction against some gradient or other obstructing factor (often a concentration gradient)

Front 9

Endocytosis

Back 9

form of active transport in which a cell transports molecules (such as proteins) into the cell (endo- + cytosis) by engulfing them in an energy-using process

Front 10

Phagocytosis

Back 10

the process of a cell eating

Front 11

Pinocytosis

Back 11

the ingestion of liquid into a cell by the budding of small vesicles from the cell membrane

Front 12

Exocytosis

Back 12

a process in which an intracellular vesicle (membrane bounded sphere) moves to the plasma membrane and subsequent fusion of the vesicular membrane and plasma membrane ensues