Cell Processes

Front 1

Metaphase

Back 1

Stage of mitosis in which chromosomes align in the middle of the cell

Front 2

Osmosis

Back 2

Passive movement of water molecules across a selectively permeable membrane down a concentration gradient

Front 3

Partially permeable

Back 3

A membrane that acts selectively to allow some substances, but not others, to pass

Front 4

Active transport

Back 4

The energy-requiring movement of substances across a biological membrane against the substances concentration gradient

Front 5

Amphipathic

Back 5

Possessing both hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties

Front 6

Anaphase

Back 6

The stage of mitosis when chromosomes move to opposite poles of the cell

Front 7

Carrier protein

Back 7

Protein in a plasma membrane that facilitates the diffusion of a specific lipid insoluble molecule

Front 8

Cell wall

Back 8

A structure, present in plants and bacteria, which is found outside the plasma membrane and gives rigidity to the cell

Front 9

Channel protein

Back 9

Protein that provides a channel through the plasma membrane for small polar molecules and ions

Front 10

Concentration gradient

Back 10

The gradual difference in the concentration of solutes as a function of distance through the solution

Front 11

Diffusion

Back 11

The passive movement of molecules from high concentration to low concentration areas

Front 12

Endocytosis

Back 12

Active transport in which molecules are engulfed by the plasma membrane, forming a phagosome or food vacuole within the cell

Front 13

Exocytosis

Back 13

Active transport process by which the membrane bound secretory vesicles fuse with the plasma membrane and release the vesicle contents into the external environment

Front 14

Facilitated diffusion

Back 14

A type of passive transport, facilitated by transport proteins

Front 15

Fluid mosaic model

Back 15

The model for membrane structure which proposes a double phospholipid bilayer in which proteins and cholesterol are embedded

Front 16

Glycolipids

Back 16

Lipids with attached carbohydrates which serve as markers for cellular recognition

Front 17

Hypertonic

Back 17

A solution with a higher solute concentration relative to another solution (across a membrane)

Front 18

Hypotonic

Back 18

A solution with a lower solute concentration relative to another solution (across a membrane)

Front 19

Interphase

Back 19

Phase of the cell cycle in which the cell spends most of its time and prepares for division

Front 20

Ion pump

Back 20

A trans-membrane protein that moves ions across a plasma membrane against their concentration gradient

Front 21

Isotonic

Back 21

Solutions of equal solute concentration are termed this

Front 22

Mitosis

Back 22

The process by which a eukaryotic cell separates the chromosomes in its cell nucleus into two identical sets, in two separate nuclei

Front 23

Passive transport

Back 23

The movement of substances across a biological membrane without energy expenditure

Front 24

Phagocytosis

Back 24

A specific form of endocytosis involving the engulfment of solid particles by the plasma membrane

Front 25

Pinocytosis

Back 25

The uptake of liquids or fine suspensions by endocytosis

Front 26

Plasma membrane

Back 26

A selectively permeable phospholipid bilayer forming the boundary of all cells

Front 27

Plasmolysis

Back 27

The process in plant cells where the plasma membrane pulls away from the cell wall as a result of the loss of water through osmosis

Front 28

Surface area : volume ratio

Back 28

This relationship determines capacity for effective diffusion in a cell

Front 29

Telophase

Back 29

The last stage of mitosis, during which the chromosomes are at the poles and they begin to uncoil and become less condensed

Front 30

Transmembrane protein

Back 30

Protein that spans the plasma membrane