VPHY 3100 Exam 1 Questions With
Complete Solutions
Simple diffusion - ANSWER non-carrier mediated "downhill" movement of some
molecules across a cell membrane, ex: gases (CO2, N2, O2) and ethanol
Osmosis - ANSWER net diffusion of water across a membrane, from regions of higher
water concentration to lower water concentration
In order for osmosis to occur... - ANSWER 1. membrane must be selectively permeable
to water
2. concentration gradient must exist
3. solute must be osmotically active
Osmotically active - ANSWER membrane is nearly impermeable to solute
Osmotic pressure - ANSWER force needed to counteract osmosis, increased by an
increase in solute concentration
Molarity - ANSWER (M) - 1 mol solute/ 1 L solution
Molality - ANSWER (m) - 1 mol solute/ 1 kg solvent
Osmolality - ANSWER the total molality of the solution, the sum of the molalities of all
solutes present
Tonicity - ANSWER the total concentration of solutes
Types of membrane transport proteins - ANSWER pumps, carriers, channels
Types of carriers - ANSWER uniporter, symporter, and antiporter
Passive transport - ANSWER facilitated diffusion, energetically downhill
ex: all channels and some uniporters
Active transport - ANSWER energetically uphill
2 categories of active transport - ANSWER 1. primary active transport (all pumps)
2. secondary active transport (symporters and anti porters)
The sodium pump - ANSWER electrogenic pump that creates and maintains the primary
ionic gradient across the plasma membrane, for each ATP burned, 3 Na ions move out
, of the cell and 2 K ions into the cell
Membrane potential - ANSWER unequal charge distribution (the inside of the cell is
more negative than the outside of the cell)
Resting membrane potential - ANSWER Vr = -60 to -80 mV
Vr is nearly equal to Ek due to the presence of... - ANSWER leaky K channels
Nerst Equation - ANSWER describes an electrochemical equilibrium state for a specific
ion, which is a balancing point between the electrical and chemical diffusional forces
acting on the ion
K has a higher membrane potential--- - ANSWER inside the cell.
Na has a higher membrane potential--- - ANSWER outside the cell.
Cl has a higher membrane potential--- - ANSWER outside the cell.
Ca has a higher membrane potential--- - ANSWER outside the cell.
Chemical signals - ANSWER how cells communicate with one another
Types of receptor proteins - ANSWER 1. channel linked (ligand gated) receptors
2. enzyme-linked receptors
3. G protein coupled receptors
4. intracellular receptors
Two divisions of the nervous system - ANSWER 1. central nervous system (CNS)
2. peripheral nervous system (PNS)
2 cell types of the nervous system - ANSWER glia
neurons
CNS - ANSWER brain and spinal cord
PNS - ANSWER all nervous tissue outside of the CNS
Functional classes of neurons - ANSWER 1. afferent (sensory)
2. efferent (motor)
3. interneurons
Nuclei vs. ganglia - ANSWER CNS vs. PNS
"fibers" CNS vs. PNS - ANSWER tracts, nerves
Complete Solutions
Simple diffusion - ANSWER non-carrier mediated "downhill" movement of some
molecules across a cell membrane, ex: gases (CO2, N2, O2) and ethanol
Osmosis - ANSWER net diffusion of water across a membrane, from regions of higher
water concentration to lower water concentration
In order for osmosis to occur... - ANSWER 1. membrane must be selectively permeable
to water
2. concentration gradient must exist
3. solute must be osmotically active
Osmotically active - ANSWER membrane is nearly impermeable to solute
Osmotic pressure - ANSWER force needed to counteract osmosis, increased by an
increase in solute concentration
Molarity - ANSWER (M) - 1 mol solute/ 1 L solution
Molality - ANSWER (m) - 1 mol solute/ 1 kg solvent
Osmolality - ANSWER the total molality of the solution, the sum of the molalities of all
solutes present
Tonicity - ANSWER the total concentration of solutes
Types of membrane transport proteins - ANSWER pumps, carriers, channels
Types of carriers - ANSWER uniporter, symporter, and antiporter
Passive transport - ANSWER facilitated diffusion, energetically downhill
ex: all channels and some uniporters
Active transport - ANSWER energetically uphill
2 categories of active transport - ANSWER 1. primary active transport (all pumps)
2. secondary active transport (symporters and anti porters)
The sodium pump - ANSWER electrogenic pump that creates and maintains the primary
ionic gradient across the plasma membrane, for each ATP burned, 3 Na ions move out
, of the cell and 2 K ions into the cell
Membrane potential - ANSWER unequal charge distribution (the inside of the cell is
more negative than the outside of the cell)
Resting membrane potential - ANSWER Vr = -60 to -80 mV
Vr is nearly equal to Ek due to the presence of... - ANSWER leaky K channels
Nerst Equation - ANSWER describes an electrochemical equilibrium state for a specific
ion, which is a balancing point between the electrical and chemical diffusional forces
acting on the ion
K has a higher membrane potential--- - ANSWER inside the cell.
Na has a higher membrane potential--- - ANSWER outside the cell.
Cl has a higher membrane potential--- - ANSWER outside the cell.
Ca has a higher membrane potential--- - ANSWER outside the cell.
Chemical signals - ANSWER how cells communicate with one another
Types of receptor proteins - ANSWER 1. channel linked (ligand gated) receptors
2. enzyme-linked receptors
3. G protein coupled receptors
4. intracellular receptors
Two divisions of the nervous system - ANSWER 1. central nervous system (CNS)
2. peripheral nervous system (PNS)
2 cell types of the nervous system - ANSWER glia
neurons
CNS - ANSWER brain and spinal cord
PNS - ANSWER all nervous tissue outside of the CNS
Functional classes of neurons - ANSWER 1. afferent (sensory)
2. efferent (motor)
3. interneurons
Nuclei vs. ganglia - ANSWER CNS vs. PNS
"fibers" CNS vs. PNS - ANSWER tracts, nerves
