Cellular Transport
Terms to Know
Concentration – the amount of solute in a solution.
Solute – the dissolved substance in a solution.
Solution – a mixture in which two or more
substances are mixed evenly.
Concentration gradient - the gradual difference in
the concentration of solutes in a solution between
two regions.
Cell Membrane (Transport) Notes
Cell Membrane and Cell Wall:
• ALL cells have a cell membrane made of proteins and lipids
protein channel
Layer 1
Cell
Membrane Layer 2
lipid bilayer protein pump
• SOME cells have cell membranes and cell walls – ex: plants, fungi
and bacteria
Cell
Membrane
Cell Wall
Function of the Cell Membrane:
• Cell membrane separates the components of
a cell from its environment—surrounds the
cell
• “Gatekeeper” of the cell—regulates the flow
of materials into and out of cell—selectively
permeable
• Cell membrane helps cells maintain
homeostasis—stable internal balance
• Animations of Active
Types of Cellular Transport Transport & Passive
Transport
Weeee!!!
• Passive Transport
cell doesn’t use energy
1. Diffusion
high
2. Facilitated Diffusion
3. Osmosis
low
• Active Transport
cell does use energy This is
gonna be
1. Protein Pumps hard
work!!
2. Endocytosis high
3. Exocytosis
low
• Diffusion is the movement of small
particles across a selectively
permeable membrane like the cell
membrane until equilibrium is
reached.
These particles move from an area of
high concentration to an area of low
concentration.
outside of cell
inside of cell
DIFFUSION
HIGH to LOW concentration
• Facilitated Diffusion is the movement of
larger molecules like glucose through the
cell membrane – larger molecules must be
“helped”
Proteins in the cell membrane form
channels for large molecules to pass
through
Proteins that form channels (pores) are
called protein channels
outside of cell Glucose
molecules
inside of cell
Click
• Osmosis is the diffusion of water
through a selectively permeable
membrane like the cell membrane
Water diffuses across a membrane
from an area of high concentration
to an area of low concentration.
Semi-permeable
membrane is
permeable to
water, but not to
sugar
Hypertonic Solutions: contain a high concentration of solute
relative to another solution (e.g. the cell's cytoplasm). When
a cell is placed in a hypertonic solution, the water diffuses
out of the cell, causing the cell to shrivel.
Hypotonic Solutions: contain a low concentration of solute
relative to another solution (e.g. the cell's cytoplasm). When
a cell is placed in a hypotonic solution, the water diffuses
into the cell, causing the cell to swell and possibly explode.
Isotonic Solutions: contain the same concentration of solute
as another solution (e.g. the cell's cytoplasm). When a cell is
placed in an isotonic solution, the water diffuses into and
out of the cell at the same rate. The fluid that surrounds the
body cells is isotonic.
Osmosis Concentration
• Hypertonic: the water or solution OUTSIDE of
the cell is saltier than the INSIDE of the cell.
• Hyper = “more” ore “above”
• This will cause it to shrivel, and shrink
• Ex. Pouring salt on a slug will cause it to shrink
• Osmosis Animations
for isotonic,
Hypertonic Solution hypertonic, and
hypotonic solutions
Hypertonic: The solution has a higher concentration of
solutes and a lower concentration of water than inside the
cell. (High solute; Low water)
shrinks
Result: Water moves from inside the cell into the solution:
Cell shrinks (Plasmolysis)!
Osmosis Concentration
• Hypotonic: the water or solution OUTSIDE of
the cell
• Hypo means “less than” or “below”
• A hypotonic solution will cause the cell to take
in water, and swell
• Osmosis Animations
for isotonic,
Hypotonic Solution hypertonic, and
hypotonic solutions
Hypotonic: The solution has a lower concentration of
solutes and a higher concentration of water than inside the
cell. (Low solute; High water)
Result: Water moves from the solution to inside the cell):
Cell Swells and bursts open (cytolysis)!
Osmosis Concentration
• Isotonic: the water outside of the cell has an
EQUAL amount of salt as the water INSIDE of
the cell.
• Iso means “equal”
• Will cause NO CHANGE in cell size
• Osmosis Animations
for isotonic,
Isotonic Solution hypertonic, and
hypotonic solutions
Isotonic: The concentration of solutes in the solution is
equal to the concentration of solutes inside the cell.
Result: Water moves equally in both directions and the cell
remains same size! (Dynamic Equilibrium)
Interactive Red Blood Cell
Click
What type of solution are these cells in?
A B C
Hypertonic Isotonic Hypotonic
Active Transport
Active transport is the movement of
molecules from LOW to HIGH
concentration.
Energy is required as molecules
must be pumped against the
concentration gradient.
Proteins that work as pumps are
called protein pumps.
outside of Carbon Dioxide
cell molecules
inside of cell
ANALOGY:
ENERGY NEEDED:
Active Transport
NO ENERGY NEEDED:
Diffusion
Osmosis
Facilitated Diffusion
• Endocytosis and Exocytosis are the mechanisms by
which very large molecules (such as food and wastes)
get into and out of the cell
Food is moved into the
cell by Endocytosis
Wastes are moved out
of the cell by
Exocytosis
2 Types of Endocytosis
A. Pinocytosis- “cell drinking” –
involves transport of solutes or
fluids
B. Phagocytosis- “cell eating” –
movement of large molecules or
whole cells into a cell
*animal cells ingest bacteria and
destroy them via phagocytosis
Ex: White Blood Cells, which are part of the immune
system, surround and engulf bacteria by endocytosis.
Types of Active Transport
Exocytosis: Forces Endocytosis & Exo
cytosis
material out of cell animations
in bulk
• membrane
surrounding the
material fuses with
cell membrane
• Cell changes shape
– requires energy
• EX: Hormones or
wastes released
from cell
