Membrane Physiology: Factors Affecting Diffusion
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Questions and Answers

What primarily drives the process of diffusion?

  • Temperature of the solution
  • Chemical reactions
  • Concentration gradients
  • Kinetic energy of particles (correct)
  • Which factor does NOT affect the rate of diffusion?

  • Presence of membrane transport proteins (correct)
  • Temperature
  • Steepness of the concentration gradient
  • Surface area of the membrane
  • How does an increase in temperature affect the rate of diffusion?

  • It reverses the diffusion process
  • It slows down the rate of diffusion
  • It increases the rate of diffusion (correct)
  • It has no effect
  • What is true about simple diffusion?

    <p>It allows non-polar molecules to move through lipid bilayers</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which example is NOT typically transported via simple diffusion?

    <p>Sodium ions</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In which circumstance would diffusion generally take the longest?

    <p>When the membrane surface area is small</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role do integral membrane proteins play in facilitated diffusion?

    <p>They assist in the passive transport of specific substances</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following statements about molecules moving through facilitated diffusion is true?

    <p>This process is dependent on the concentration gradient</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What happens to undigested material in a phagosome?

    <p>It remains in a residual body.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main function of pinocytosis?

    <p>To take up droplets of extracellular fluid.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    During exocytosis, what forms inside the cell to release materials?

    <p>Secretory vesicles</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of cells liberate digestive enzymes and hormones through exocytosis?

    <p>Secretory cells</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What occurs to the smaller molecules after pinocytosis?

    <p>They are used elsewhere in the cell.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is transcytosis?

    <p>The moving of vesicles across a cell.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which statement about exocytosis is true?

    <p>All cells perform exocytosis.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one possible outcome of substances released during exocytosis?

    <p>They can be used as energy sources.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of diffusion allows solutes that are too polar to move through the lipid bilayer?

    <p>Facilitated diffusion</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are most membrane channels typically selective for?

    <p>Potassium and chloride ions</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do ions typically cross the plasma membrane through ion channels?

    <p>Down their electrochemical gradients</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role does a 'gated' channel play in facilitated diffusion?

    <p>It changes shape to open or close the port for ions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In carrier-mediated facilitated diffusion, what triggers the release of the solute?

    <p>A change in the carrier's shape</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What effect does an isotonic solution have on red blood cells?

    <p>RBCs maintain normal shape and volume</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a characteristic of ion channels compared to free diffusion through the lipid bilayer?

    <p>They generally allow slower diffusion rates.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which solution is an example of a hypotonic solution?

    <p>Pure water</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does a carrier in carrier-mediated facilitated diffusion interact with the solute?

    <p>It binds more frequently when solute concentration is higher.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What happens to red blood cells in a hypertonic solution?

    <p>They shrink and may become crenated</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best describes facilitated diffusion overall?

    <p>It is a passive process that does not require ATP.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary process involved in dialysis?

    <p>Movement of small molecules across a semipermeable membrane</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following describes hemolysis?

    <p>Rupture of red blood cells</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What defines an isotonic solution in relation to RBCs?

    <p>Equal solute concentration on both sides of the plasma membrane</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What occurs during crenation of red blood cells?

    <p>Cells shrink due to loss of water</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a characteristic of a semipermeable membrane in the context of osmosis?

    <p>Only allows solvent molecules to pass through</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What determines the rate of carrier-mediated facilitated diffusion?

    <p>The steepness of the concentration gradient</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What happens when all carrier proteins in the plasma membrane are occupied?

    <p>The transport maximum is reached</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which process requires energy to move solutes against a concentration gradient?

    <p>Active transport</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary source of energy for primary active transport?

    <p>Energy from hydrolysis of ATP</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which pump is considered the most prevalent primary active transport mechanism?

    <p>Sodium-Potassium pump</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does the Sodium-Potassium pump primarily function?

    <p>It expels sodium ions and imports potassium ions</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of carrier proteins in facilitated diffusion?

    <p>To transport solutes across the membrane without using energy</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which substances typically utilize carrier-mediated facilitated diffusion?

    <p>Glucose and vitamins</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Membrane Physiology: Factors Affecting Diffusion

    • Diffusion is a passive process involving the random mixing of particles due to their kinetic energy, occurring in both solutes and solvents.
    • Solutes move from areas of high concentration to low concentration, following their concentration gradient.

    Factors Influencing Diffusion Rate

    • Concentration Gradient: A steeper gradient increases diffusion rate.
    • Temperature: Higher temperatures enhance diffusion speed, notably in feverish conditions.
    • Surface Area: Larger surface areas facilitate faster diffusion.
    • Diffusion Distance: Longer distances slow down the diffusion process.

    Types of Diffusion

    • Simple Diffusion:

      • Occurs freely through the lipid bilayer without membrane proteins.
      • Non-polar molecules (e.g., O2, CO2, fatty acids, fat-soluble vitamins) and small uncharged polar molecules (e.g., water, urea) can freely diffuse.
    • Facilitated Diffusion:

      • Involves integral membrane proteins aiding specific substances across the membrane.

      • Channel-Mediated:

        • Solutes travel down their concentration gradient through ion channels.
        • Channels are selective for ions like potassium and chloride; transport is slower than through the lipid bilayer.
        • Gated channels open/close based on cellular changes.
      • Carrier-Mediated:

        • Carriers bind solutes on one side and release them on the other after shape changes.
        • The rate depends on concentration gradient steepness and carrier availability, with saturation occurring when all carriers are occupied.
        • Common substances include glucose and some vitamins.

    Active Transport

    • An energy-requiring process where carriers move solutes against their concentration gradient using ATP or ionic gradients.
    • Primary Active Transport:
      • Directly uses ATP to change carrier protein shape, such as the Sodium-Potassium Pump, which maintains low intracellular sodium and high potassium concentrations.

    Endocytosis and Exocytosis

    • Endocytosis: Engulfing substances into the cell via vesicles.

      • Phagocytosis: Engulfment of large particles.
      • Pinocytosis: Engulfment of extracellular fluid.
    • Exocytosis: Materials are expelled from the cell, involving secretory vesicles fusing with the plasma membrane.

    • Transcytosis: Involves endocytosis on one side of the cell, transport across, and exocytosis on the opposite side.

    Tonicity

    • Describes a solution's effect on cell volume via water content alterations.
    • Isotonic Solution: Equal solute concentrations, maintaining cell shape (e.g., 0.9% NaCl).
    • Hypotonic Solution: Lower solute concentration than cells, causing cells to swell and possibly burst (hemolysis).
    • Hypertonic Solution: Higher solute concentration than cells, leading to cell shrinkage (crenation).

    Dialysis

    • Process involving a semipermeable membrane that separates particles by size, allowing small molecules to diffuse while retaining larger molecules.

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    Description

    Explore the principles of diffusion and the factors that influence its rate. This quiz covers both simple and facilitated diffusion processes, including the role of concentration gradients, temperature, and surface area. Test your understanding of membrane physiology concepts.

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