Do Now:
Complete the Ch 8 prior knowledge
worksheet
Unit 2
Biology
Cell Membrane
Objectives
Explain how the cell membrane is
structured to allow this transport (i.e.,
semi-permeable, carrier molecules).
Explain how materials can enter and leave
a cell (diffusion, facilitated diffusion,
osmosis and active transport
endocytosis and exocytosis)
Describe how surface area to volume
ratio and concentration gradients affect
the movement of materials into and out of
a cell.
Cells Require Inputs &
Removal of wastes
Must take in useful molecules & ions from external
environment
Amino acids, monosaccharides, fatty acids, glycerol,
minerals, vitamins & water
For example: a cell producing proteins will need to
take in a variety of amino acids
Cells must get rid of waste products from cellular
respiration
Water, metabolic wastes nitrogenous wastes
Many cellular reactions require specific conditions to occur.
Enzymes can only perform their functions within narrow pH
ranges so Hydrogen ion concentrations must be kept within strict
limits to maintain cytoplasmic pH level
The cell membrane
Copyright - National Institute of Standards and Technology
Drawing by Dana Burns
The Fluid Mosaic Model
The cell membrane
The cell membrane (or plasma membrane)
is the outer boundary of a cell.
The membrane is a phospholipid bi-layer.
Proteins and other molecules are
embedded in the membrane.
The cell membrane is semi-permeable
which means it is selectively permeable
and only allows some substances to
cross and not others.
The Phospholipid bi-layer
Membrane Hydrophilic
protein TISSUE FLUID phosphate
Hydrophobic
lipid tail
PHOSPHOLIPID
BI-LAYER
CYTOPLASM
Phospholipid Bi-Layer
the phospholipids are in a shape like a
head and a tail.
The heads like water (hydrophilic) and the
tails don't like water (hydrophobic).
The tails bump up against each other and
the heads are out facing the watery area
surrounding the cell. The two layers of
cells are called the bi-layer.
Movement through the
membrane
Because the cell membrane is
fatty, most water soluble
substances cannot diffuse through
it.
Exceptions include oxygen &
carbon dioxide.
Membrane Proteins
Membrane Hydrophilic
protein TISSUE FLUID phosphate
Hydrophobic
lipid tail
PHOSPHOLIPID
BI-LAYER
CYTOPLASM
Membrane proteins
A variety of proteins are embedded
in the bi-layer.
These serve various functions
including the movement of
substances in and out of the cell
(membrane transport proteins).
Some act as receptor sites for
hormones
Membrane transport proteins
Membrane proteins that aid the
movement of substances in and
out of the cell include:
Channel proteins (ion channels)
open channels that allow simple
diffusion.
Carrier proteins that allow facilitated
diffusion (e.g. glucose) and active
transport (specific membrane pumps).
Membrane transport
Transport processes are either
passive or active.
Passive processes Active processes
require no cellular require ATP and
energy and include include specific
diffusion, osmosis & membrane pumps
facilitated diffusion. and phagocytosis/
pinocytosis.
No ATP
required Requires
ATP
Passive processes
Require no cellular energy (ATP).
Substances move from high
concentration to low concentration.
E.g. diffusion, facilitated diffusion
& osmosis.
Diffusion
Net movement of particles from a region of
high concentration to a region of low
concentration
Difference in particle concentration
between the two regions = concentration
gradient
Facilitated Diffusion
Charged particles (sodium &
chloride ions) & relatively
large molecules (glucose &
amino acids) do not readily
pass through the
phospholipid bilayer
Some proteins assist such
particles to diffuse into the
cell
Carrier proteins & channel
proteins are involved
Osmosis
Water molecules can pass through the plasma
membrane
If the concentration of water molecules inside the cells
is lower then the concentration outside, water will
diffuse into the cell until an equilibrium is reached
Diffusion of water across a selectively permeable
membrane from an area of high water concentration
(low solute) to an area of low water concentration (high
solute)
Active transport
Require energy (ATP).
Substances move from low
concentration to high
concentration (i.e. against the
concentration gradient).
Example: membrane pumps.
Endocytosis
For large molecules that cannot be moved
by diffusion or active transport
Active process, requiring energy
Phagocytosis engulfs solids
Pinocytosis liquids
Exocytosis
Crash Course Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPKvH
rD1eS4
Surface Area to Volume Ratio
It all comes down to the size of cells.
Cells are very small but they have to
be!
All of the requirements of a cell, and all
the products of a cell, must pass
through the cell membrane.
Therefore the relationship between the
surface area of the cell the its volume is
important
A small cell will have a larger surface area to
volume ratio than a large cell will
As a cell grows its ability to exchange enough
materials to support its ing volume is
diminished. (the volume s at a greater rate,
than its S.A).
A large cell (with a large volume) cannot
support itself as it does not have enough
membrane surface to absorb all the nutrients
required and remove wastes
Thus to function effectively = most cells are
microscopic
Surface area vs. volume ratio
When the
diameter of
the cell is
doubled, the
volume is 8x
greater but
its S.A. is
only 4x
greater
