HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY
Surface area
WITH PATHOPHYSIOLOGY (LAB)
August 31, 2021
The Cell: Physiochemical Properties
Overview of Transport Across
the Plasma Membrane
 PASSIVE PROCESS
 A substance moves down its
concentration or electrical gradient
to cross the membrane using only its
own kinetic energy (energy of
motion).
Example: Simple Diffusion
 ACTIVE PROCESS
 Cellular energy (usually in the form
of ATP) is used to drive the
substance “uphill” against its
concentration or electrical gradient.
Example: Active transport, Endocytosis,
and Exocytosis.
The Principle of Diffusion
 Diffusion
 A passive process in which the
random mixing of particles in a
solution occurs because of the
particles’ kinetic energy.
 Both the solutes and solvent
undergo diffusion.
FACTORS AFFECTING DIFFUSION RATE
1. Steepness of the concentration
gradient.
2. Temperature.
3. Mass of the diffusing substance.
4.
5. Diffusion distance
Types of Diffusion
 Simple Diffusion
 A passive process in which
substances move freely through the
lipid bilayer of the plasma
membranes of cells without the help
of membrane transport proteins.
 Nonpolar, hydrophobic molecules
o Oxygen, carbon dioxide, and
nitrogen gases
o Fatty acids, steroids
o Fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E,
and K)
o Small, uncharged polar
molecules such as water,
urea, and small alcohols.
 Facilitated Diffusion
 Solutes that are too polar or highly
charged to move through the lipid
bilayer by simple diffusion can cross
the plasma membrane by a passive
process wherein an integral
membrane protein assists a specific
substance across the membrane.
o Channel-mediated – a solute
moves down its concentration
gradient across the lipid bilayer
through a membrane channel.
 Ion channels
 o Carrier-mediated – solute binds to  Filtration
a specific carrier on one side of the  Water molecules and extremely
membrane and is released on the small solutes are forced to move
other side after the carrier through a selectively permeable
undergoes a change in shape. membrane by a hydrostatic
pressure.

 Osmosis
 A type of diffusion in which there is
net movement of a solvent through a
selectively permeable membrane.