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3. Membrane Physiology
N/A
100
Physiology
Undergraduate 2
09/06/2012

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Term
The plasma membrane is a fluid __________ embedded with ________.
Definition
lipid bilayer, proteins
Term
The _______ model and the _____________ model describes membrane structure and function.
Definition
mosaic, sleleton fence
Term
What is the membrane skeleton fence model?
Definition
It is a model in which some proteins have more limited movement than other proteins (dog analogy)
Term
The plasma membrane separates the ____ from the ____.
Definition
ECF, ICF
Term
The membrane is __________ so it is able to regulate what enters and exits the cell.
Definition
selectively permeable
Term
Specific proteins embedded in the cell membrane are able to act as molecular ________ that allows cells to __________.
Definition
signals, communicate
Term
The _______ interior of the plasma membrane acts as a barrier to the passage of _________ molecules between the _______ and ______.
Definition
hydrophobic, water-soluble, ICF, ECF
Term
What are the seven main functions of the membrane proteins?
Definition
  • channels
  • carriers
  • receptors
  • docking-marker acceptors
  • enzymes
  • cell-adhesion molecules (CAMs)
  • self-identity markers
Term
The membrane carbohydrates serve as ___________.
Definition
self-identity markers
Term
What are the three modes of membrane transport?
Definition
diffusion, carrier-mediated transport, and vesicular transport
Term
In diffusion, molecules move from ______ to ______ concentrations.
Definition
high, low
Term
Diffusion can happen through the _________ or through a ______________.
Definition
lipid bilayer, channel protein
Term
Diffusion of water is known as _________.
Definition
osmosis
Term
Carrier-mediated transport is a form of _________ diffusion.
Definition
facilitated
Term
What is carrier-mediated transport?
Definition
It is a form of membrane transport in which a molecule binds to the binding site of a proteins which triggers a conformational change, allowing the molecule to cross to the other side of the plasma membrane.
Term
What two types of carrier-mediated transport are there?
Definition
facilitated diffusion and active transport
Term
Do facilitated diffusion and active transport require ATP? Why?
Definition
  • facilitated diffusion does not because the molecules diffuse from high to low concentration
  • actiev transport does because it moves molecules from low to high concentartion
Term
What two types of active transport are there?
Definition
primary active transport and secondary active transport
Term
What is primary active transport?
Definition
It is a form of carrier-mediated transport in which energy is directly required to move a substance against its concentration gradient. the carrier splits ATP in order to power the process.
Term
What is secondary active transport?
Definition
It is a type of carrier-mediated transport in which energy is required but is not directly used to produce uphill movement. The carrier does no split the ATP, but instead moves the molecule uphill by using second-hand energy stored in the form of an ion concentration gradient.
Term
How is the ion concentration gradient that is used in secondary active transport established?
Definition
it is established using primary active transport
Term
What are aquaporins?
Definition
special water channels
Term
What three important characteristics determine the kind and amount of material that can be transported across the membrane via carrier-mediated transport?
Definition
specificity, saturation, competition
Term
What two types of vesicular transport are there?
Definition
endocytosis and exocytosis
Term
Does vesicular transport rquire energy?
Definition
yes
Term
What type of molecules can diffuse passively through the plasma membrane?
Definition
lipid-soluble substances and small polar molecules
Term
What are the two main factors that determine whether a molecule can diffuse through the plasma membrane?
Definition
the relative solubility of the particle in lipids and its size
Term
What is net diffusion?
Definition
the difference between two opposing movements
Term
What is an electrical gradient?
Definition
a difference in charge between two adjacent areas
Term
What is an electrochemical gradient?
Definition
simultaneous existence of a chemical and electrical gradient
Term
Cations are attracted to _______.
Definition
anions
Term
What are three examples of molecules that can diffuse through the lipid bilayer?
Definition
O2, CO2, and fatty acids
Term
What type of molecules require a protein channel in order to diffuse down their concentration gradient? Give four examples.
Definition
specific small ions (Na+, Ca+, K+, Cl-)
Term
Ions move down their ________ concentration gradient.
Definition
electrochemical
Term
How long can osmosis take place?
Definition
It continues untol the concentration gradient is abolished or until the opposing hydrostatic pressure stops movement.
Term
What six factors affect the rate of diffusion?
Definition
  • maginitude of the concentration gradient 
  • permeability of the membrane to the substance
  • the surface area of the membrane across which diffusion is taking place
  • the molecular weight of the substance
  • the distance through which diffusion must taek place
  • temperature
Term
if there is a big globule of a substance that wants to pass through the membrane, what does it do?
Definition
it breaks into smaller pieces
Term
Why is osmosis necessary?
Definition
because the plasma membrane is not permeable to all solutes so it is necessary for water to cross the plasm membrane in order to bring the concentration of solutes to equilibrium
Term
In cases where osmosis is necessary, how is the difference in concentration measured?
Definition
it is measured using osmotic pressure
Term
What determines osmotic pressure?
Definition
the number of molecules, ions, or particles
Term
What is tonicity? What process is it related to?
Definition
the effect on cell volume of the non-penetrating solutes surrounding the cell, osmosis
Term
What are the three "states" that affect tonicity?
Definition
hypotonic, hypertonic, isotonic
Term
What happens to a red blood cell if you place it in an isotonic solution?
Definition
nothing happens, its cell volume remains the same
Term
What happens if you place a red blood cell in a hypotonoc solution?
Definition
water will move into the red blood cell and may cause the cell to burst or lyse
Term
What happens to a red blood cell if you place it in a hypertonic solution?
Definition
water will move out of the cell and cause the cell to shrink
Term
How does specificity relate to carrier-mediated transport?
Definition
in carrier-mediated transport, each molecule has its own carrier
Term
How does saturation relate to carrier-mediated transport?
Definition
there are a limited number of carrier binding sites available
Term
How is competition related to carrier-mediated transport?
Definition
closely related compounds may compete for binding sites
Term
What kind of molecules are transported via facilitated diffusion? Give an example.
Definition
small water soluble substances, proteins, amino acids, specific polar molecules for which a carrier is available (glucose)
Term
How is facilitated diffusion limited?
Definition
it displays a transport maximum (Tm) in which the carrier can become saturated
Term
What kind of molecules are transported via primary active transport? Give three examples.
Definition
specific ions, proteins, amino acids, or polar molecules for which carriers are available (Na+, K+, amino acids)
Term
How is primary active transport limited?
Definition
It displays a transport maximun (Tm) in which the carrier can become saturated.
Term
What molecules are transported via secondary active transport? Give three examples.
Definition
specific polar molecules, proteins, amino acids, and ions for which cotransport carriers (symporters) are available (glucose, amino acids, some ions)
Term
How is secondary active transport limited?
Definition
it displays a transport maximum (Tm) in which cotransport molecules can become saturated
Term
Why can charged ions and water soluble molecules not pass through the plasma membrane?
Definition
because the lipid bilayer is hydrophobic
Term
During active transport, what happens when the protein's conformation changes?
Definition
the affinity of the protein for that molecule decreases so that it cannot pick up any molecules from the high concentration side
Term
What are the two main purposes of the Na+/K+ pump?
Definition
  • it maintains the Na+/ K+ concentration gradients across the membrane (for electrical signals)
  • it regulates cell volume by controlling the solute concentration
Term
The potassium concentration is higher _______ the cell, while the sodium gradient is higher ________ the cell.
Definition
inside, outside
Term
In the Na+/ K+ pump, when the protein is open to the ICF it favor _______. Whe it is open to the ECF it favor _______.
Definition
Na+, K+
Term
For every ___ sodium that the protein transports in the Na+/ K+ pump, it pumps ___ potassium.
Definition
3,2
Term
How does secondary active transport work? Give an example.
Definition

A cotransporter moves one solute down it's concentration gradient (which was established via primary active transport) while simultaneously moving another solute up its concentration gradient.

  • This happens between glucose and Na+ when glucose is trasnported into cells.
Term
What is counter-transport? Give an example.
Definition

it is a form of secondary active transport in which two solutes are moved in opposite directions

  • sodium/ calcium exchanger
Term
What is the purpose of vesicular transport?
Definition
it transports large molecules and multimolecular particles, bacteria
Term
Communication between cells is largely conducted by __________________.
Definition
extracellular chemical messengers
Term
What are gap junctions?
Definition
they are gaps between cells where cell are connected  and small molecules and ions can directly exchange between cells without entering the ECF
Term
What is transient direct link-up of cells?
Definition
it is when cells have specialized markers on the cell membrane that allow them to link with other cells and interact with them
Term
What is an example of transient dierect link-up between cells?
Definition
phagocytes directly link-up with undesirable cells for destruction
Term
What is paracrine secretion?
Definition
it is when local chemical messengers are released by a cell and affect only neighboring cells
Term
How are paracrine chemical messengers released?
Definition
by simple diffusion
Term
Do paracrine chemical messengers enter the bloodstream?
Definition
no
Term
What are neurotransmitters?
Definition
very short-range chemical messengers that diffuse from neurons to adjacent cells
Term
What are hormones?
Definition
long-range chemical messengers secreted into circulation by endocrine glands
Term
What are neurohormones? Give some examples.
Definition
they are hormones that are released into circulation by neurons (GnRH, orexin, dopamine)
Term
What are pheromones?
Definition
chemical messengers released into the environment by glands
Term
What are the six categories of chemical messengers?
Definition
  • paracrines
  • neurotransmitters
  • hormones
  • neurohormones
  • pheromones
  • cytokines

 

Term
What are cytokines?
Definition
any class of immunoregulatory proteins that are secreted by cells especially of the immune system
Term
What is "the sam ekey different lock" principle?
Definition
it states that the same chemical messenger can have multiple, unrelated affects
Term
Extracellular chemical messengers bring about cell responses primarily by _____________.
Definition
signal transduction
Term
What is signal tranduction?
Definition
it is a process in which signals are passed from cell to cell
Term
Some first messengers activate a ___________ in the membrane.
Definition
phosphorylating enzyme
Term
Soem first messengers open ______________.
Definition
chemically gated channels
Term
Many first messengers activate ___________ pathways.
Definition
second-messenger
Term
What are G-proteins? How are they activated?
Definition
they can be activated by and extracellular first messenger. They then trigger a second-messenger pathway that leads to the desired cellular response.
Term
What is the advantage of having a second-messenger system?
Definition
there are many different steps and throughout each step, the original signal is amplified greatly
Term
What two reaction may a signal produce?
Definition
a normal cell function or cell death
Term
__________ bind hydrophobic first messengers entering the cell.
Definition
internal receptors
Term
What are antagonists?
Definition
they are molecules that block a step in a communication pathway. these molecules are often similar to the original signal molecule but different enough to cause interference
Term
What are agonists?
Definition
they are molecules that activate a step in a communication pathway. they often similar to the original  signal molecule and cause the same general effect
Term
There is a greater concentration of ____ in the ICF and a greater concentration of _____ and _____ in the ECF.
Definition
K+, Na+, Cl-
Term
K+ is _____ soluble in internal water than Na+.
Definition
more
Term
_____ has more leak channels than Na+. The membrane is 50-75 times more permeable to  ______ than ______.
Definition
K+, K+, Na+
Term
The Na+/ K+ pump contributes to ___% of the concentration gradient. ___% of the membrane potential is by ________.
Definition
20, 80, passive diffusion
Term
What is membrane potential?
Definition
it is the separation of charges across a membrane
Term
What is the effect of potassium alone on membrane potential?
Definition
Potassium has a higher concentration inside the cell. Because of this, it diffuses down it's gradient to the outside of the cell, but because there are protein anions inside the cell that can't permeate the membrane, this cause the potassium to move back in. The resulting membrane potential is -90 mV (meaning the inside is relatively negative to the outside)
Term
What is the effect of sodium alone on membrane potential?
Definition
The concentration of sodium is higher outside the cell than inside so it moves down its concentration gradient inside the cell. There are anions though, such as Cl-, outside of the cell that cause the sodium to move back outside the cell. The resulting membrane potential is +60 mV (meaning the inside is relatively positive to the outside)
Term
What is the effect of both sodium and potassium on the membraen potential?
Definition
The sodium potassium pump keeps a high concentration gradient. Given this gradient, K+ tends to drive MP to the equilibrium potential for K+ (-90 mV). Na+ does the same but because the membrane is more permeable to K+, K+ exerts the dominant effect so the resting potential is much closer to K+ (-70 mV). The inside remains more negative than the outside because of the protein anions.
Term
Movement of Na+ and K+ produces ________.
Definition
action potential
Term
The sign of the membrane potential always designates the polarity of the excess charge on the ______ of the cell.
Definition
inside
Term
What is the resting potential of a cell with regrads to the Na+/ K+ pump?
Definition
-70 mV
Term
Does Cl- have an active transport mechanism?
Definition
no
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