The Cell in its Environment

The Cell Membrane

Cell membrane as gatekeeper

The cell membrane is selectively permeable, which means that some substances can pass through while others can not

Permeable comes from a Latin word that means to pass through

Cell membrane is usually permeable to substances such as oxygen, water, and carbon dioxide but not permeable to large molecules and salts

Diffusion
The main method by which small molecules move into and out of cells is diffusion Diffusion is the process by which molecules tend to move from an area of high concentration to an area of lower concentration

What causes Diffusion?

Molecules are always moving. As they move they bump into one another causing collisions. The more collisions the more the molecules move away from each other and spread out until they spread evenly throughout the area.

Diffusion in cells (an example)

Single-celled organisms in pond water get the O2 they need to survive from the H2O around them. There are more molecules of O2 in the H2O outside the cell (higher concentration) than there are inside the cell (lower concentration) The O2 molecules diffuse from the area of high concentration to the area of low concentration

Osmosis-Diffusion of H2O Molecules

H2O passes easily into and out of cells through the cell membrane. The diffusion of H2O molecules through a selectively permeable membrane is called osmosis.

Why is Osmosis Important to the Cell?

Red Blood cell bathed in a solution were the concentration of water is the same as in the cell Isotonic

Why is Osmosis Important to the Cell?

Red Blood cell bathed in a solution (includes lots of salt) were the concentration of water is lower than in the cell

Why is Osmosis Important to the Cell?

Red Blood cell bathed in a solution (includes very little salt) were the concentration of water is higher than in the cell

Passive Transport
Moving materials though a cell membrane through osmosis and diffusion is like cycling downhill-it requires no energy The movement of materials through a cell membrane without using energy is called passive transport Normally goes from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration

Active Transport
Moving materials though a cell membrane opposite the natural direction is like cycling uphill-it requires energy The movement of materials through a cell membrane using energy is called active transport Normally goes from an area of low concentration to an area of high concentration

Active Transport-Transport Proteins

One method of active transport is transport proteins Transport Proteins pick up molecules outside the cell and carry them in using energy in the process

Active Transport-By Engulfing

Happens when the cell membrane surrounds, or engulfs, a particle Once the particle is engulfed, the membrane pinches off and forms a vacuole within the cell