Study Guide: Cell Membrane

Study Questions

Objective: Relate the structure of the cell membrane to is function as a semi-permeable barrier between intracellular fluid and extracellular fluid.

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Vocabulary

  1. Phospholipid
  2. Phospholipid bilayer
  3. Semipermeable
  4. Exocytosis
  5. Endocytosis
  6. Tonicity
  7. Osmosis
  8. Diffusion
  9. Extracellular fluid
  10. Intracellular fluid

Study Guide Questions

  1. What is the purpose of the cell membrane?
  2. Describe the structure of the cell membrane.
  3. How does the structure of the cell membrane affect its function?  What IS its function?Use the words “hydrophobic” and “hydrophyllic” to describe the cell membrane.
  4. Why is the cell membrane said to be a “fluid mosaic”?
  5. What role(s) do proteins play in the cell membrane?
  6. What role(s) does cholesterol play in the cell membrane?
  7. What is unique about the cell membrane of an archaean prokaryote?
  8. How do substances get into and out of the cell?
  9. Compare and contrast primary and secondary active transport.
  10. Compare and contrast active and passive transport.
  11. Compare and contrast simple diffusion and facilitated diffusion
  12. Compare and contrast endocytosis and exocytosis.
  13. Define osmosis.
  14. Given any scenario, predict the movement of water molecules across a semipermeable membrane.
  15. Describe the concept of “tonicity”.
  16. Given any solution, be able to label the solution “hyper, hypo or isotonic”.