Scribd
Upload
259 views

GUIDED READING & Video Notes - Cell Membrane & Transport

The document provides information about cell membrane structure and function, including types of transport across the cell membrane. It discusses that the cell membrane is a selectively permeable phospholipid bilayer that regulates what enters and exits the cell. It also notes that there are two main types of transport - passive transport which doesn't require energy, and active transport which uses energy to transport molecules against their concentration gradient. Specific mechanisms of passive transport like diffusion and facilitated diffusion and active transport like protein pumps, exocytosis, and endocytosis are also outlined.

Uploaded by

Ms. Bain
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
259 views

GUIDED READING & Video Notes - Cell Membrane & Transport

The document provides information about cell membrane structure and function, including types of transport across the cell membrane. It discusses that the cell membrane is a selectively permeable phospholipid bilayer that regulates what enters and exits the cell. It also notes that there are two main types of transport - passive transport which doesn't require energy, and active transport which uses energy to transport molecules against their concentration gradient. Specific mechanisms of passive transport like diffusion and facilitated diffusion and active transport like protein pumps, exocytosis, and endocytosis are also outlined.

Uploaded by

Ms. Bain
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 4

Name: __________________________________________________ Period: ______________ Date: _______________

Unit 3 – Cell Theory, Structure & Function


Cell Membrane and Transport – Guided Reading & Video Notes
Learning Goals: Explain the role of cell membranes as a highly selective barrier (passive &
active transport).

Structure of the Cell Membrane:


The cell membrane (also called the plasma
membrane) is common to all living cells
and serves as a barrier that controls what
enters and leaves a cell. It is made of
phospholipids, which have hydrophilic
(water-loving) heads and hydrophobic
(water-fearing) tails. They pack together in
a double layer called the phospholipid
bilayer, with the hydrophilic heads on the
outside of the cell, as well as the inside of the cell, and the hydrophobic tails sandwiched in
between.
The cell membrane allows only certain molecules, such as ions and small organic molecules, into
and out of the cell. The ability to allow only certain molecules in or out of the cell is referred to
as a selectively-permeable membrane. In other words, it selects what can permeate (move)
through. This characteristic helps the cell to regulate its interactions between the internal and
external environment, helping to maintain homeostasis. It can let essential molecules and
nutrients in and out, while keeping harmful bacteria and viruses out.
Embedded in the phospholipid
bilayer are numerous types of
molecules (such as proteins and
carbohydrates) that serve specific
functions. Proteins are used to let
certain types of molecules in or out
of the cell. These molecules float
around the cell membrane freely
and thus, the cell membrane is often
called a Fluid-Mosaic
The cell membrane also acts as the attachment point for both the cytoskeleton and, if present,
the cell wall, both of which give a cell its structure and support.
After reading, please watch the video “Cell membranes are way more complicated than you think” by
TedEd, then answer the following questions. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsklF1w4eok)

1. Describe the role and importance of the cell membrane. What is meant by “the cell
membrane is semipermeable?”

2. Describe the basic structure of the cell membrane with regard to specific molecules:

3. Why is the cell membrane often referred to as a “fluid-mosaic”?

4. What is the function and purpose of the proteins embedded in the cell membrane?

Movement of Materials Across the Cell Membrane


The cell regulates most molecules that pass through the cell membrane. When things pass
through the membrane, whether it be between the phospholipids or through a protein, it is
called cellular transport. There are two types of cellular transport that occur in cell membranes,
passive transport and active transport.

Passive Transport:
When a molecule can make it through a cell
membrane without the cell having to use any energy
to do so, it is called passive transport. Typically, this
occurs when small, simple molecules are moving
from a high concentration of molecules on one side
of the cell membrane, to the other side where there
is a lower concentration of those molecules. Some
molecules, like oxygen and carbon dioxide, are tiny enough that they can squeeze between the
phospholipids and do not need the help of a protein. This is called simple diffusion. If there is
a lot of oxygen on the outside of the cell, but less on the inside of the cell, oxygen will work its
way through the cell membrane until there are equal amounts of oxygen on both sides of the
cell membrane. When there are equal amounts of a molecule on both sides of the cell
membrane, the concentration of molecules is said to have reached equilibrium.

When a molecule cannot simply diffuse


through the cell membrane, a protein
channel may be used. When a protein
channel is used but no energy is
expended, it is called facilitated
diffusion. In other words, the protein
“helps” the molecule through. An
example of this is osmosis, when water
uses a protein channel to travel through
the cell membrane. Water, being a polar
molecule, cannot simply squeeze through the cell membrane because the hydrophobic tails of
the phospholipids prevent it from doing so. So instead they have to use a special protein channel
called an aquaporin to get through. Osmosis uses no energy, so it is a form of passive transport.

Active Transport
Sometimes, certain molecules need to move from an area of low concentration to high
concentration, which requires the cell to use energy to do so. Cellular transport that uses energy
is called active transport. This is the opposite of diffusion, and these molecules are said to flow
against their concentration gradient.
Molecular Transport
Active transport cannot occur without
the assistance of a carrier protein.
Much like facilitated diffusion, a
protein in the membrane carries the
molecules across the membrane,
except this protein moves the
molecules from a low concentration to
a high concentration. These proteins
are often called "protein pumps"
because they use energy to pump the molecules across the membrane. There are many cells in
your body that use pumps to move molecules. For example, your nerve cells (neurons) would
not send messages to your brain unless you had protein pumps moving molecules by active
transport.
Bulk Transport – Exocytosis & Endocytosis
Some molecules or particles are just too large
to pass through the cell membrane or to move
through a carrier protein. So cells use two other
active transport processes to move these
macromolecules into or out of the cell. Vesicles
in the cytoplasm move macromolecules or
large particles across the plasma membrane.
There are two types of vesicle transport,
endocytosis and exocytosis. Both processes are
active transport processes, requiring energy.

Exocytosis is when molecules exit the cell with the help of a vesicle. This is easy to remember
because they both have “ex” in them. Endocytosis is when molecules enter the cell with the
help of a vesicle that forms around the material, then transports it where it is needed within the
cell. Again, easy to remember because they both start with “En.”

After reading, please watch the video “Membrane Transport” by McGraw Hill Media, then
answer the following questions: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxC30xYAOA8)
5. Please compare and contrast passive transport and active transport:

6. Describe what is taking place during diffusion. Is this a form of passive or active transport.
Explain your reasoning.

7. Describe what osmosis is. Is this a form of passive or active transport. Explain your
reasoning.

8. What are the similarities and differences between diffusion and facilitated diffusion?

9. Describe three ways that cells perform active transport:

You might also like