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Cellular Transport Vocabulary Words

Terms in this set (16)

Passive Transport
General transport mechanism that requires no energy expenditure by the cell, molecules move with the concentration gradient...... molecules move from an area of high concentration to an area of lower concentration (energy that moves the molecules is provided by Brownian
Movement)...... as in colliding pool balls in billiards.
Diffusion
Movement of molecules from an area of high concentration to an area of lower concentration. (passive)
Osmosis
Movement of water molecules from an area of high concentration to an area of lower concentration (passive) (a special form of diffusion)
Facilitated Diffusion
Movement of molecules from an area of high concentration to an area of lower concentration sped up by openings in the cell membrane (passive)
Active Transport
Movement of molecules that requires a cell to expend energy. (riding a bike uphill)
Exocytosis
Active transport of molecules out of a cell. Usually against the concentration gradient. (low to high)
Endocytosis
Active transport of molecules into a cell. Usually against the concentration gradient. (low to high)
Pinocytosis
"Cell drinking" Active transport of tiny amounts of water into a cell. Usually against the concentration gradient. (low to high)
Phagocytosis
"Cell eating" Active transport of molecules into a cell. White blood cells "eat" foreign particles such as bacteria, viruses...
Hypotonic Solution
More solute inside the cell than the water environment that it is living in. Water will enter the cell in an effort to equalize (dilute) the water concentration inside the cell and outside
of the cell. (osmosis)
Hypertonic Solution
More solute outside the cell than inside the cell. Water will leave the cell in an effort to equalize (dilute) the water concentration outside the cell and inside the cell.
Isotonic Solution
There is an equal amount of solute inside the cell and in the environment the cell is living in. Water is entering and leaving the cell at an equal rate. (at equilibrium)
Equilibrium
To be in balance or in a state of equality
Concentration Gradient
A difference in concentration across a cell's membrane.
Adenosine triphosphate
energy carrying molecule found in all cells
Cell membrane
a semi- permeable membrane that protects and separates the cell.
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