VPHY 3100 Exam 1 questions and
answers A+ rated 2025-2026
How do water, carbs, lipids, and proteins comprise the cytoplasm, plasma
membrane, and the extracellular matrix? - correct answer ✔✔Water makes up
the 67 percent of the intracellular compartments and 33 percent of the
extracellular compartments. Carbs are found ground up in the extracellular matrix
and cover the outside surface of the cells plasma membrane. Proteins make up
the ground (gel like) collagen and elastin. Lipids make up the liquid bilayer around
the cell (phospholipids).
Explain how our total body water is partitioned into intracellular and extracellular
compartments. - correct answer ✔✔67 percent is intracellular and 33 percent is
extracellular. Of the 33 percent extracellular, 20 percent is vascular fluid (blood
plasma) and the other 80 percent is interstitial fluid (non vascular tissue fluid).
Explain how water, ions, small molecules, and large molecules make their way
from the inside to the outside of the cell and vice versa - correct answer ✔✔Gases
are permeable through simple diffusion. Small, uncharged, polar molecules are
either permeable through simple diffusion or semi permeable. Large, uncharged,
polar molecules are impermeable and are carrier mediated transported. Ions are
impermeable and are carrier mediated transport. Charged, polar molecules are
impermeable and are carrier mediated transport.
Define the following terms and explain how they are interrelated: simple
diffusion, osmosis, facilitated diffusion, solvent, solute, concentration (molarity
and molality), concentration gradient, diffusional driving force, selective
permeability, osmotic pressure, (OsM, Osm), and tonicity. - correct answer
, ✔✔Simple diffusion: the non carrier mediated, "downhill" movement of some
molecules across a cell membrane
Osmosis: the net diffusion of H2O (solvent) across a membrane, from regions of
higher [H2O] to lower [H2O]
Facilitated Diffusion: passive transport, direction of transport is energetically
downhill
Solvent: water/what is absorbing the solute
Solute: stuff dissolved in water/solvent
Concentration: tells the amount of solute relative to the amount of solution (or
solvent)
Molarity: mol/L
Molality: mol/kg
Concentration Gradient: lead to the downhill net diffusion of solute from a region
of higher concentration to a region of lower concentration
Diffusional driving force: proportional to concentration gradient
Selective permeability: the degree to which a substance will diffuse across a lipid
bilayer is dependent on this
Osmotic pressure: is the force needed to counteract osmosis , increased solute
concentrations increase the osmotic pressure of the solution
Tonicity: total concentration of solutes
Osmolality: the total molality of the solution = the sum of the molalities of all the
solutes present
Compare/contrast the three types of membrane transport proteins: pumps,
carriers, and channels. Address the structure, function, mechanisms of action,
kinetics, and thermodynamics (energetics) - correct answer ✔✔Pumps: aka
ATPases, active transport
answers A+ rated 2025-2026
How do water, carbs, lipids, and proteins comprise the cytoplasm, plasma
membrane, and the extracellular matrix? - correct answer ✔✔Water makes up
the 67 percent of the intracellular compartments and 33 percent of the
extracellular compartments. Carbs are found ground up in the extracellular matrix
and cover the outside surface of the cells plasma membrane. Proteins make up
the ground (gel like) collagen and elastin. Lipids make up the liquid bilayer around
the cell (phospholipids).
Explain how our total body water is partitioned into intracellular and extracellular
compartments. - correct answer ✔✔67 percent is intracellular and 33 percent is
extracellular. Of the 33 percent extracellular, 20 percent is vascular fluid (blood
plasma) and the other 80 percent is interstitial fluid (non vascular tissue fluid).
Explain how water, ions, small molecules, and large molecules make their way
from the inside to the outside of the cell and vice versa - correct answer ✔✔Gases
are permeable through simple diffusion. Small, uncharged, polar molecules are
either permeable through simple diffusion or semi permeable. Large, uncharged,
polar molecules are impermeable and are carrier mediated transported. Ions are
impermeable and are carrier mediated transport. Charged, polar molecules are
impermeable and are carrier mediated transport.
Define the following terms and explain how they are interrelated: simple
diffusion, osmosis, facilitated diffusion, solvent, solute, concentration (molarity
and molality), concentration gradient, diffusional driving force, selective
permeability, osmotic pressure, (OsM, Osm), and tonicity. - correct answer
, ✔✔Simple diffusion: the non carrier mediated, "downhill" movement of some
molecules across a cell membrane
Osmosis: the net diffusion of H2O (solvent) across a membrane, from regions of
higher [H2O] to lower [H2O]
Facilitated Diffusion: passive transport, direction of transport is energetically
downhill
Solvent: water/what is absorbing the solute
Solute: stuff dissolved in water/solvent
Concentration: tells the amount of solute relative to the amount of solution (or
solvent)
Molarity: mol/L
Molality: mol/kg
Concentration Gradient: lead to the downhill net diffusion of solute from a region
of higher concentration to a region of lower concentration
Diffusional driving force: proportional to concentration gradient
Selective permeability: the degree to which a substance will diffuse across a lipid
bilayer is dependent on this
Osmotic pressure: is the force needed to counteract osmosis , increased solute
concentrations increase the osmotic pressure of the solution
Tonicity: total concentration of solutes
Osmolality: the total molality of the solution = the sum of the molalities of all the
solutes present
Compare/contrast the three types of membrane transport proteins: pumps,
carriers, and channels. Address the structure, function, mechanisms of action,
kinetics, and thermodynamics (energetics) - correct answer ✔✔Pumps: aka
ATPases, active transport
