MOVEMENT IN &

OUT OF CELLS

Chapter
#3
 A cell must exchange materials with its
surroundings, a process controlled by the
Cell membrane
 Cell membranes are selectively permeable,
regulating the cell’s molecular traffic
 Cell Membranes
Cell membranes have pores (holes) in it
a. Selectively permeable: Allows some
molecules in and keeps other molecules out
b. The structure helps it be selective!

Pores
Diffusion
 Perfume smell
Diffusion

5
Diffusion in water
What is diffusion? (definition)

 Diffusion is the movement of molecules

(or ions) from a region of high
concentration to a region of lower
concentration until they are spread out
evenly.
 7
Concentration gradient

The molecules are more densely packed on

the left and so they tend to diffuse into the
space on the right. This is a concentration
gradient

A concentration gradient
 Concentration gradient
Concentration Gradient - change in the concentration of a
substance from one area to another.
Small particles tend to diffuse
faster than larger ones
 13

The shorter the distance, the faster the rate of diffusion

In a single-celled organism (such as Amoeba) the

distance is so small that diffusion is rapid enough
for the cell’s needs
maximum
distance
oxygen is 0.1 mm

carbon dioxide
An increase in temperature
increases the rate of diffusion
Example 1:Diffusion in the Alveoli:
O2 diffusing into the blood and
CO2 diffusing out of the blood
Diffusion of oxygen into a 9

cell
The concentration of
So the oxygen molecules
oxygen molecules is
diffuse into the cell
greater outside the cell
than inside
Diffusion takes place more quickly
through thin membranes (e.g.
exchange of gases through the
alveolar wall)
Example 2: Some digested food
diffuses across the gut wall into
the blood
Pollination

AS Biology, Cell membranes and Transport 17

Diffusion
 cell uses no energy
 molecules move randomly
 Molecules spread out from an area of high
concentration to an area of low
concentration.

 (HighLow)
OSMOSIS
 Most of your body  When water
is made of water. DIFFUSES
through a CELL
 This water can MEMBRANE, the
move into and out process is called
of your cells OSMOSIS.

 Water can enter

and leave your
cells by diffusion.
 Osmosis
‘The diffusion of water
from an area of high
concentration of water
molecules (high water
potential) to an area of
low concentration of
water (low water
potential) across a
partially permeable
membrane.’
 Osmosis
CONCENTRATED SOLUTION
DILUTE SOLUTION
Cell membrane
partially
Sugar molecule permeable.

VERY Low conc.

of water
molecules. Low
water potential.

VERY High conc. Outside cell

Inside cell
of water
molecules. High
water potential.
 Osmosis

Cell membrane
partially
permeable.

Low conc. of
water molecules.
Low water
OSMOSIS potential.

High conc. of
Inside cell Outside cell
water molecules.
High water
potential.
 Osmosis

Cell membrane
partially
permeable.

OSMOSIS

Inside cell Outside cell

EQUILIBRIUM. Equal water concentration on each side.

Equal water potential has been reached. There is no net
movement of water
**Osmosis**
 Special kind of diffusion (NO ENERGY)
 Movement of WATER through a semi-permeable
membrane
 Net movement of water is from high low
concentration of water (low  high
concentration of solute)
 Cell walls help maintain water balance in plants
Osmosis and Animal Cells
Cells placed in
a solution of
higher water
potential
Osmosis and Animal Cells
Cells placed in
a solution of
higher water
potential Cell
Water
enters by bursts
osmosis (lysis)
Osmosis and Animal Cells

Cells placed in
a solution of
lower water
potential
Osmosis and Animal Cells

Water leaves
by osmosis
Cells placed in
a solution of
lower water
potential Cell shrivels
(crenation)
Osmosis and Plant Cells
Cells placed in
a solution of
higher water
potential
Osmosis and Plant Cells
Cells placed in
a solution of
higher water
potential Cell
Water becomes
enters by TURGID
osmosis
Osmosis and Plant Cells
Cells placed in a
solution of lower
water potential
Osmosis and Plant Cells
Cells placed in a
solution of lower
water potential
Cell shrivels
(PLASMOLYSED)

Water leaves
by osmosis
Osmosis and Plant Cells

These cells are placed in strong

sugar solution – would they
become turgid or plasmolysed?
plasmolysed
• When plant cells lose water and
plasmolyse…
• …the plant is unable to support itself and
starts to WILT.
Osmosis and Plant Cells
And when turgid the cell contents
exert outward pressure on the cell
wall

This helps to support plants and

keep them upright.
Osmosis and Plant Cells
 Passive Transport

1. When a cell uses no energy to move particles across

a membrane passive transport occurs
2. Particles go DOWN their concentration gradient.
3. Diffusion & osmosis are passive transport.

Plasma
membrane Concentration gradient
What types of molecules can NOT diffuse??

Even though all

molecules seem small to
us, they do vary in size a
lot!

Large molecules can

NOT cross the cell
membrane!

Large molecules must

rely on active transport.
Active Transport
Structural changes in the
carrier proteins result in the
movement of material
Active Transport
 Carrier Proteins
carrier proteins
change shape to
move materials
across the cell
membrane
 What is active transport?
Movement of substances in and out of cells by diffusion involves molecules
moving down a concentration gradient from high to low concentration.

high concentration
diffusion active transport

low concentration
Sometimes substances move into cells from low to high concentration. This is
called active transport.
Active transport needs energy to make it happen.
How do molecules move along the concentration gradient during active
transport?
 Active transport and plants
Plants need mineral elements from the soil for healthy growth. Minerals enter a
plant though its roots.
The concentration of minerals in the soil is lower than that inside a root hair cell,
so how do minerals enter the root cell?

root hair
cell
mineral
element

soil
 Active transport and plants
Minerals enter a root cell by active transport.
The plant uses energy to move minerals up the concentration gradient from
the soil into its root cells.
Why is it important for plants to use energy in this way?

active transport

root hair
cell
mineral
element

soil
Summary:

• Active Transport is:

• “The movement of molecules AGAINST
their concentration gradient, using
ENERGY from respiration.
 Active Transport
•cell uses energy
•actively moves molecules to where they are
needed
•Movement from an area of low concentration
to an area of high concentration

•(Low  High)