Membrane Physiology

Transportation across the cells

 Crossing the Plasma Membrane :

 The plasma membrane keeps a cell intact .
 It allows only certain molecules and ions to enter and exit the cytoplasm freely .
 Diffusion : is the random movement of molecules from the area of higher
concentration to the area of lower concentration until they are equally distributed .

 Osmosis : Is the simple diffusion of water across a plasma membrane.

 Explain : small molecules (e.g., water or small solutes) tend to passively diffuse across
these walls (Filtration ) ?
Because capillary walls are only one cell thick .
 The membrane serves as both an insulator and a diffusion barrier to the movement of
ions.
 An anion (−) : is an ion with more electrons than protons, giving it a net negative
charge.
 A cation (+) : is an ion with fewer electrons than protons, giving it a positive charge.
 Type of transport
 Transport through the cell membrane either
1. Directly through the lipid bilayer .
2. Through the proteins: occurs by one of two basic processes: diffusion or active
transport .
 simple diffusion : It means that kinetic movement of molecules or ions occurs through a
membrane opening or through intermolecular spaces without any interaction with carrier
proteins in the membrane .
 Facilitated diffusion : is also called carrier-mediated diffusion .

it is a passive type of transport that does not need energy for the movement of
molecules ?
because a substance transported in this manner diffuses (‫ ) بهذه الطريقة تنتشر‬through the
membrane using a specific carrier protein to help.

 The passive forces acting across the membrane are both chemical and electrical in nature.
a. Chemical Gradients :
Explain : potassium ions tend to move out of the cell through open potassium
channels ?
Because the intracellular concentration of potassium ions is relatively high .
 This movement is driven by a concentration gradient, or chemical
gradient .
 Similarly, a chemical gradient for sodium ions tends to drive those ions
into the cell
 ‫ فإن التدرج الكيميائي ل ايونات الصوديوم يميل إلى دفع تلك ايونات إلى داخل الخلية‬،‫وبالمثل‬
 b. Electrical Gradients :
Explain : potassium ions leave the cytoplasm more rapidly than sodium ions
enter ?
Because the cell membrane is much more permeable to potassium than to sodium.

‫ونتيجة لذلك فإن العصارة الخلوية على طول الجزء الداخلي من الغشاء تتعرض لخسارة صافية في الشحنات‬
‫ مما يترك فاًئ ضا من البروتينات سالبة الشحنة وفي الوقت نفسه تعرض السائل خارج الخلية بالقرب من‬،‫الموجبة‬
‫ السطح الخارجي لغشاء الخلية لكسب صافي من الشحنات الموجبة‬.

 Active Forces (primary and secondary) :

According to the source of the energy used to cause the transport it divided into:
1. Primary Active Transport : the energy is derived directly from breakdown of
adenosine triphosphate (ATP) .
 the substances that are transported by primary active transport are
sodium, potassium, calcium, hydrogen, chloride.
 The Sodium–Potassium Exchange Pump : the most fundamental
example of active diffusion .
the ion transporter Na+/K+-ATPase pumps which transport :
Na cations from inside  outside
K cations from outside to  inside of the cell
This establishes two concentration gradients:
i. a gradient for sodium where its concentration is much higher
outside than inside the cell
ii. a gradient for potassium where its concentration is much
higher inside the cell than outside.
 Calcium Ions :
There are two primary active transport calcium pumps:
i. One is in the cell membrane and pumps calcium to the outside
of the cell .
ii. The other pumps calcium ions into one or more of the
intracellular vesicular organelles of the cell, such as the
sarcoplasmic reticulum of muscle cells and the mitochondria in
all cells .
 Hydrogen Ions : There are two important H+ pump in the body located
in the stomach and renal tubules

2. Secondary Active Transport ( the energy is derived secondarily from energy

that has been stored in the form of ionic concentration differences of
secondary molecular or ionic substances between the two sides of a cell
membrane) .

 Transport—Co-Transport and Counter-Transport .

1. Diffusion is the random movement of molecules from an area of __________ concentration to an
area of lower concentration.

2. Osmosis is the diffusion of __________ across a plasma membrane.

3. Capillary walls are only one cell thick, which allows small molecules to passively diffuse across
them through a process called __________.

4. The membrane serves as both an __________ and a diffusion barrier to the movement of ions.

5. An anion is an ion with __________ electrons than protons, giving it a net negative charge.

6. A cation is an ion with __________ electrons than protons, giving it a positive charge.

7. Transport through the cell membrane can occur either directly through the __________ or
through proteins.

8. Simple diffusion occurs when molecules or ions pass through a membrane opening or through
intermolecular spaces without any interaction with __________ proteins.

.9 Facilitated diffusion, also called carrier-mediated diffusion, relies on specific __________ proteins
to assist in the movement of substances across the membrane.

10. The passive forces acting across the membrane are both __________ and electrical in nature.

11. Chemical gradients are driven by differences in __________ concentrations and tend to drive
certain ions into or out of the cell.

12. Potassium ions tend to move out of the cell through open potassium channels because the
intracellular concentration of potassium ions is __________.

13. Electrical gradients are driven by differences in __________ charges and can influence the
movement of ions across the membrane.

14. Potassium ions leave the cytoplasm more rapidly than sodium ions enter because the cell
membrane is much more permeable to __________ than to sodium.

15. Active transport requires the direct breakdown of __________ to provide energy for the
transport process.

.The Sodium-Potassium Exchange Pump is an example of __________ active transport .16

The Sodium-Potassium Exchange Pump transports sodium cations from __________ the cell and .17
.potassium cations from __________ to the inside of the cell

Primary active transport is used to transport ions such as sodium, potassium, calcium, hydrogen, .18
.__________ and
 Calcium ions are transported by two primary active transport pumps, one in the cell membrane .19
that pumps calcium to the __________ of the cell, and the other that pumps calcium ions into
.intracellular vesicular organelles

Hydrogen ions are transported by specialized pumps located in the __________ and renal .20
.tubules

Secondary active transport relies on the energy stored in the form of ionic concentration .21
.differences of __________ substances between the two sides of a cell membrane

Co-transport and counter-transport are two types of secondary active transport that involve the .22
simultaneous or sequential movement of substances across the membrane in __________ with the
.movement of other substances

The concentration gradients established by the Sodium-Potassium Exchange Pump can be .23
.__________ utilized by secondary active transporters to transport other substances such as

.The movement of ions through ion channels is a form of __________ transport .24

The process of endocytosis involves the __________ of substances into the cell through the .25
.formation of vesicles

Exocytosis is the process by which substances are __________ from the cell through the fusion .26
.of vesicles with the cell membrane

The process of __________ involves the bulk movement of substances across the cell membrane .27
.without the need for specific transport proteins

.The movement of water through aquaporins is an example of __________ transport .28

.is the process of engulfing and digesting solid particles by a cell __________ .29

The __________ is a specialized form of endocytosis that involves the uptake of fluids and .30
.dissolved solutes by cells

.Define diffusion and explain its role in transportation across the cell membrane .1

?What is the function of the plasma membrane in maintaining cell integrity .2

.Explain the process of osmosis and its significance in cellular transport .3

?What are the factors that determine the permeability of the plasma membrane .4

?How does facilitated diffusion differ from simple diffusion .5

.Describe the role of carrier proteins in facilitated diffusion .6

 What are the chemical and electrical gradients that influence passive transport across the cell .7
?membrane

.Explain the movement of potassium ions out of the cell through open potassium channels .8

?Why do potassium ions leave the cytoplasm more rapidly than sodium ions enter .9

?How does primary active transport differ from secondary active transport .10

.Provide an example of primary active transport and explain the energy source involved .11

Describe the function of the Sodium-Potassium Exchange Pump and its role in establishing .12
.concentration gradients

?What are the two primary active transport calcium pumps and their respective roles .13

How are hydrogen ions transported in the body and where are the important H+ pumps .14
?located

.Explain the concept of co-transport and counter-transport in secondary active transport .15

.Discuss the role of ion channels in the movement of ions across the cell membrane .16

?What is the process of endocytosis and how does it contribute to cellular uptake .17

.Describe the process of exocytosis and its significance in cellular secretion .18

?How does bulk transport differ from other forms of cellular transport .19

20. Explain the process of phagocytosis and its role in cellular function.