1. Why is knowledge of the properties of the plasma membrane important to physiologists?
a. To study the structure of the cell
b. To understand the mechanics of cellular respiration
c. To regulate the flow of materials into and out of the cell
d. To study the cell's DNA replication
2. What is the main driving force behind diffusion according to the information?
a. Electrical attraction
b. Movement from an area of high concentration to low concentration
c. Active transport by cells
d. Osmosis
3. Osmosis is defined as the movement of what across a semi-permeable membrane?
a. Ions
b. Solvent
c. Gases
d. Proteins
4. Why are osmotic considerations important in understanding plasma membrane properties?
a. Because the plasma membrane is impermeable to water
b. Because the plasma membrane is permeable to solutes
c. Because solute concentration is the only factor affecting osmosis
d. Because osmosis is irrelevant to plasma membrane properties
5. Which of the following is NOT a factor influencing the extent of osmotic effect?
a. The concentration of the solute
b. The degree of dissociation of the solute
c. The permeability of the plasma membrane to the solute
d. The color of the solution
6. What is the primary factor determining the expression of the osmotic effect?
a. Concentration of the solute
b. Degree of dissociation of the solute
c. Permeability of the plasma membrane to solute
d. Absolute temperature
7. According to the information, why do some molecules not pass through the plasma
membrane?
a. They are too small
b. They are too large
c. Osmosis is not a phenomenon they exhibit
d. They move faster than water
8. What happens to a red blood cell when it is surrounded by a solution with lower osmotic
pressure than inside the cell?
a. Inward flow of water, causing the cell to burst
b. Outward flow of water, causing the cell to shrink
c. No change in cell volume
d. Hemolysis
9. What is the term used to describe the process of a red blood cell bursting due to increased
pressure inside the cell?
a. Crenation
b. Osmosis
c. Hemolysis
d. Equilibrium
10. When does hemolysis occur in red blood cells according to the information?
a. When the plasma membrane is dissolved away
b. When the cell is surrounded by a solution of higher osmotic pressure
c. When the cell is in a hypotonic solution
d. When the plasma membrane is strong and resilient