Cell Membranes

Structure and
Function
Animal Cell
Membrane
 Semi-permeable Membranes
• Lipid membranes are semi-permeable,
also called selectively permeable
– Water moves across the membrane freely
– Ions (charged particles) do not move across
the membrane freely
– Many large molecules do not move across
the membrane freely
 Passive Transport

• Diffusion – the movement of substances

from an area of higher concentration to
an area of lower concentration
• Osmosis – the movement of water from
an area of higher water content to an
area of lower water content
 Active Transport

• The movement of a substance against

the concentration gradient (from lower
concentration to higher concentration
• Active transport requires the use of
energy
Membrane proteins play an important
role in passive and active transport
Very large molecules may be
taken in by endocytosis
Exocytosis secretes substances