Chapter 3-Movement of Subtances across the Plasma membrane.

Structure of the plasma membrane -The plasma membrane consist of a phospholipid bilayer molecule
on the surface of the membrane,forming a mosaic pattern. -It consist of hydrophillic head which faces the extracellular fluid and a hydrophobic tail which faces each other in the membrane. -Proteins functions as carrier or pore for molecules to across the membrane. -Cholesterol within the phospholipid bilayer stabilises the structure. -The carbohydrates attach to glycoproteins or glycolipids on the outer surface of the membrane. -The plasma membrane acts as barrier to control the exchange of substances in and out of the cell.

Passive transported
Simple Diffusion
-Diffusion is defined as the net movement of particles of a substances from region of higher concentration to a region of lower concentration of the substances.These particles are said to be moving down the concentration gradient. -It will continue until equilibrium is reached.When equilibrium is reached,the particles still moves but there is n net movement in any particular direction. -Diffusion trough the cell membranes is affected by the permeability of the membrane and the size and type of particlesdiffusing trough it. -The phospholipid bilayer is permeable to very small uncharged molecule like oxygen and carbon dioxide.These molecules diffuse freely in and out of the cell trough the phospholipid bilayer. -Hydrophobic molecule such as steriod and fat-soluble vitamins A,D,E,K can dissolved in the phospholipid bilayer.These substances diffuse readily trough

the phospholipid bilayer down the concentration gradient by simple diffusion.

Facilitated Diffusion
-Unsoluble substaces in lipids(glucose,amino acid,nucleic acid) cannot pass trough the phospholipid bilayer of cell membranes. -These substances pass trough the phospholipid bilayer by facilitated diffusion. -Diffusion is facilitated by carrier protein or pore proteins. -When there is a concentration gradient of glucose molecules between the plasma membrane,the glucose molecules will bind to an active site on a specific carrier protein.The binding caused the carrier protein to change it shape and the glucose molecule is released into the cell down the concentration gradient. -Small polar molecules such as Na,HCO ions and water molecules are prevented from moving across the phospholipid bilayer.

-These hydrophilic molecules have to pass trough the plasma membrane via the hydrophilic channels formed by proteins molecules that are scattered across the phospholipid bilayer. -These pore proteins acts as tunnels trough which certain ion and polar molecules,including water, can pass through -Facilitated diffusion is passive and does not required any energy.

Osmosis
-Osmosis is defined as the net movement of water molecules from a region of higher concentration water molecules(low solute concentration or low osmotic pressure) to a region of lower concentration of water molecule(high solute concentration or high osmotic pressure) across a semi-permeable membrane -Osmosis does not required energy as water moves across a semi-permeable membrane according to its concentration gradient. -The movement wil continue until the concentrations of water on both sides of the membranes are equal.There is no net movement of water. -A solution that contains less solute,low concentration and low osmotic pressure is known as hypotonic solution -A solution that contain more solute,high concentration,high osmotic pressure is known as hypertonic solution.

-A solution that contains equal amount of dissolved particles wil produce osmotic pressure of equal magnitudes is known as isotonic solution.There is no net movement of water molecules between both solutions.

Active Transport
-Active transports is the movement of ions or molecules across a cell membranes against their concentrations gradient;from region of lower concentration to region of higher concentrations.The process requires energy in form of ATP. -Occurs in living system that actively synthesises energy trough respiration.

Osmosis in animal cells

Isotonic solution -When the RBC are placed in an isotonic solution,there is no net movement of water molecules,thus no change in the shape or volume of the cell. Hypotonic solution -When the RBC is placed is hypotonic solution,water enters by osmosis.There is a net movement of water into the cell and cause it to expands and the thin plasma membrane bursts.The RBC is said to be haemolysed and the process is known as haemolysis. Hypertonic solution -When the cells is placed in hypertonice solutions,there is a net outflow of water by osmosis from the cells.The cell shrinks and the plasma membrane produce a crinkled appearance.The cell is said to be crenated,or so said to have undergo crenation.

Osmosis in plant cells

Hypotonic solution -When a plant cell is placed in an hypotonic solution,water enters by osmosis.The vacuole expand, and the plasma membrane stretches and exerts pressure against the cell wall. -Plant cell sap containing waters and dissolved solutes which enables soil water to enter the plant cells and maintain turgidity. -The entry of water through osmosis causes the protoplast to expand and pushes against the cell wall,exerting of hydostatic pressure,turgor pressure since it presses against the cell wall,thus maintaining the cell in a turgid condition .The plant cell is said to have turgidity. -Turgidity helps to maintain plant cell shape and form. Hypertonic solution -When a plant cell is placed is hypertonic solution,water will leaves the cell by osmosis.This results in the shrinking of the vacuole and protoplast in the cell ,causing the detachment and pulling away of the plasma membranes from the of the cell occurs and the cell becomes flaccid.A cell in this condition is said to be plasmolysed.