3 Movement of substances

across cell membrane

3.1 Cell membrane

1 The fluid mosaic model (流動鑲嵌模型) suggests that the cell membrane is mainly made up of
phospholipids (磷脂) and proteins:

protein molecules carbohydrate

molecule
outside of cell
glycoprotein
(糖蛋白)

phospholipid
bilayer
(磷脂雙層)
inside of cell (cytoplasm)

2 Structure of the cell membrane and its relation to the properties and functions of the cell
membrane:

How the membrane structure is related to its

Structure of the cell membrane
properties and functions

- The cell membrane is mainly made up - This makes the cell membrane differentially
of phospholipids and proteins. permeable.
- The phospholipid molecules are - Only small, non-polar molecules can move across
arranged in a bilayer. the phospholipid bilayer.
- Some protein molecules act as - Small, polar molecules and certain ions can move
channels or carriers. across the cell membrane through channel
proteins (通道蛋白) or carrier proteins (載體蛋白).

- The cell membrane is fluid in nature - This makes the cell membrane flexible, so that the
as the phospholipid molecules can cell membrane can change its shape and fuse
move laterally (橫向地). during phagocytosis and cell division.

- Protein molecules are interspersed (散 - This makes the cell membrane strong enough to
佈) among the phospholipid molecules. support the cell contents.

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3.2 Movement of substances across membranes

Diffusion
1 Diffusion (擴散) is the net movement of particles down the concentration gradient (濃度梯度)
until the particles become evenly distributed.
2 Importance of diffusion:
- It allows cells to obtain useful materials like oxygen and nutrients.
- It allows cells to remove waste like carbon dioxide.
- It allows substances in cells to be distributed throughout the cytoplasm.
3 Factors affecting the rate of diffusion:
- Concentration gradient: the steeper the concentration gradient is, the higher the rate of
diffusion.
- Temperature: The higher the temperature is, the higher the rate of diffusion.
- Size of particles: The smaller the particles are, the higher the rate of diffusion.
- Distance: The shorter the diffusion distance is, the higher the rate of diffusion.
- Surface area: The larger the surface area of the membrane is, the higher the rate of
diffusion.

Osmosis
4 Osmosis (滲透) is the net movement of water molecules across a differentially permeable
membrane from a region of higher water potential (水勢) / lower concentration to a region
of lower water potential / higher concentration.
5 Hypotonic (低滲的) solution has a water potential higher than the cytoplasm.
Isotonic (等滲的) solution has the same water potential as the cytoplasm.
Hypertonic (高滲的) solution has a water potential lower than the cytoplasm.
6 Changes in animal cells in solutions of different water potentials:

In hypotonic solution In isotonic solution In hypertonic solution

net water no net water net water

movement movement movement

cell swells and finally cell remains cell shrinks (萎縮) and
bursts (爆裂) unchanged becomes wrinkled (皺褶)

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7 Changes in plant cells in solutions of different water potentials:

In hypotonic solution In isotonic solution In hypertonic solution

net water no net water net water

movement movement movement

cell becomes cell remains cell becomes

turgid (膨脹) unchanged plasmolysed (質壁分離)
and flaccid (軟縮)

8 Importance of osmosis:
- It is the main process by which water enters or leaves cells in all organisms.
- It allows the absorption of water in human small intestines.
- It allows the absorption of water in plant roots.

Active transport
9 Active transport (主動轉運) is the movement of substances against a concentration gradient.
It requires energy.
10 The process of active transport:

lower
concentration
carrier protein

higher
concentration

The substance to be transported The carrier protein changes Finally, the substance is
binds to a carrier protein. its shape using energy. released on the other side of
the cell membrane.
11 Importance of active transport:
- It allows the absorption of glucose in human small intestines.
- It allows the absorption of minerals from the soil into plant roots.

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Phagocytosis
12 Phagocytosis (吞噬) is the uptake of large particles into the cells by the formation of a pit or
pseudopodia (偽足) at the cell membrane. It requires energy.
13 The process of phagocytosis:

1 At the cell membrane,

a pit or pseudopodium
cell membrane
is formed to engulf the
target particle.
outside of cell

inside of cell
digested
products 2 The particle is
enclosed in a
small vacuole.
4 The digested
products diffuse
to the cytoplasm.

3 The cell releases

enzymes to digest the
enzyme
particle in the vacuole.

14 Importance of phagocytosis:
- It allows some unicellular organisms to engulf food particles.
- It allows certain white blood cells to engulf harmful microorganisms so as to protect our
body against diseases.
15 Comparison of diffusion, osmosis, active transport and phagocytosis:

Active or Energy
Process Membrane needed?
passive? needed?

Diffusion No Passive No

Osmosis Differentially permeable membrane needed Passive No

Active transport Living membrane needed Active Yes

Phagocytosis Living membrane needed Active Yes

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