Foundations of Biology

Cell Transport
Vocabulary Terms

1. Homeostasis - the process of keeping the internal conditions of an organism stable

2. Cellular Transport - the movement of materials into and out of the cell
3. Hydrogen Bond - the attraction between a hydrogen atom on one water molecule and
the oxygen atom on another water molecule
4. High Heat Capacity - the amount of heat energy required to increase its temperature
5. Adhesion - an attraction between molecules of different substances
6. Cohesion – an attraction between molecules of the same substance
7. Surface Tension - cohesion of water with a film-like quality on the surface of a liquid
8. Capillary Action - tendency of a liquid to draw up into a narrow tube due to the liquid’s
properties of cohesion and adhesion
9. Solution - composed of two parts: solute and solvent
10. Solute - the substance that is dissolved
11. Solvent - the substance in which the solute dissolves
12. Cell Membrane - regulates what enters and leaves the cell and protects and supports
the cell
13. Selectively Permeable - that some substances can pass across them and others cannot
14. Phospholipid Bilayer - the composition of nearly all cell membranes is a double-layered
sheet, which gives cell membranes a flexible structure and forms a strong barrier
between the cell and its surroundings
15. Hydrophobic – hates waters
16. Hydrophilic – loves water
17. Fluid Mosaic Model - describes the structure of the plasma membrane as a mosaic of
components —including phospholipids, cholesterol, proteins, and carbohydrates—that
gives the membrane a fluid character
18. Cell Walls - lie outside of the cell membrane and most are porous enough to allow
water, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and certain other substances to pass through easily
19. Passive Transport - the movement of materials across the cell membrane without using
energy like osmosis and diffusion
20. Active Transport - the movement of materials against a concentration gradient using
ATP energy such as endocytosis and exocytosis
21. Dynamic Equilibrium - the state of having equal concentrations of molecules move into
or out of the cell at the same rate (exchange at the same time).
22. Concentration Gradient - a difference in the concentration of ions or other dissolved
particles between two regions
23. Diffusion - the process by which particles move from an area of high concentration to an
area of lower concentration
24. Facilitated Diffusion - uses carrier proteins or protein channel (ion channels or
aquaporins) to move ions and small molecules across the cell membrane; does not
require any additional use of the cell’s energy
25. Osmosis - the diffusion of water through a selectively permeable membrane and the
dissolved particles (solute) cannot cross
26. Tonicity - the ability of an extracellular solution to make water move into or out of a cell
by osmosis
27. Isotonic - particle concentration is the same so no net movement of water
28. Hypertonic - particle concentration is greater outside of the cell so water moves out of
the cell causing the cell to shrink, shrivel, pull against the cell wall, or wilt
29. Hypotonic - particle concentration is greater inside the cell so water moves into the cell
causing the cell to swell, burst (animal cell), push against the cell wall, or stand upright
to support heavy structures like leaves or flowers
30. Turgot Pressure - the pressure created by osmosis as water enters the plant cell
31. Osmotic Pressure - the pressure at which osmosis (the flow of water across the
membrane) stops even if the concentrations are not equal on both sides of the
membrane
32. ATP (adenosine triphosphate) - adenine base, ribose sugar, and three phosphate
groups; releases energy when the bond between second and third phosphate group is
broken
33. Endocytosis - the process of taking materials into the cell by means of enfolding
(pockets) of the cell membrane.
34. Exocytosis - the process of releasing large amounts of materials from the cell
35. Phagocytosis - the transporting of solid objects into the cell; “cell eating”
36. Pinocytosis - the transporting of fluid into the cell; “cell drinking”