Topic 3:

Movement
in and out
of cells
 Learning Objectives

To understand that the contents of a living cell must

be kept separate from its surroundings
To know that the cell surface membrane can act as
a barrier to some substances which might pass
between a cell and its surrounding
To understand the principles of diffusion, osmosis,
active transport and phagocytosis
Lesson Outline

Diffusion

Osmosis

Active Transport
MOVEMENT IN AND OUT OF CELLS

The cell membrane and cell wall

control what substances enter
and exit the cell.
Molecules such as glucose and
proteins move into the cell to be
used for metabolic reactions
and storage.
Waste products such as carbon
dioxide and lactic acid are
transported out into the blood
to be excreted from the body.
 MOVEMENT IN
AND OUT OF
CELLS
Passive Transport Active Transport

Diffusion Phagocytosis

Osmosis

Facilitated Diffusion
3.1 DIFFUSION

Definition:

The net movement of particles (as a

result of their random movement):
from an area of high concentration
to an area of low concentration.
down the concentration gradient.
The energy for diffusion comes from the
kinetic energy due to the random
movement of molecules and ions.
 FACTORS AFFECTING THE RATE OF DIFFUSION

Surface area Temperature

As the surface area increases, As temperature increases, the

the rate of diffusion increases. rate of diffusion increases.
More space is available for the The molecules gain kinetic
substances to diffuse through. energy and thus move faster.

Concentration gradient Diffusion distance

As the concentration gradient A greater diffusion distance

increases, the rate of diffusion slows the rate of diffusion as
increases. molecules must travel further.
Adaptation:
Diffusion distances are short:
Solutes and gases are able to diffuse in and
out of thin cells across the cell membrane.
Concentration gradients are maintained:
Crucial for metabolic reactions.
Eg. blood cell: Blood circulation makes
sure glucose molecules do not build up
and equilibrium is not reached.
Diffusion surfaces are large:
Large surface area enables efficient
molecule diffusion.
Eg. The placenta in a pregnant woman.
 Definition:
3.2 OSMOSIS The net movement of water molecules through a
partially permeable membrane.
KEY TERMS DEFINITION

Turgid A swollen cell due to a high-water content.

The pressure on the cell wall from the cell membrane

Turgor pushing upon it.
pressure This is a result of the cell becoming turgid as water moves
into the cell via osmosis.

Occurs when water moves out of the cell via osmosis.

The cell shrinks but the cell membrane does not peel away
Flaccid
from the cell wall.
If more water leaves the cell, it becomes plasmolyzed.

Occurs when there is too little water in cells. In plant cells,

Plasmolysis
the cell membrane peels away from the cell wall.

Water moves in and out of cells through the cell

membrane via osmosis until it reaches equilibrium.

High water potential = Low concentration of solute

 THE IMPORTANCE OF WATER AS A SOLVENT

Provides a medium in which

Provides support metabolic reactions occur.
for the cell
Water has a high specific heat
structure by
capacity, and thus acts as a
maintaining the
temperature buffer.
turgor pressure.
Maintains the optimum
temperature for enzyme reactions.
 CELLS AND OSMOSIS Plant cells rarely suffer
permanent damage through
water loss
From dilute solutions to concentrated solutions
Water particles diffuse from regions of high
water potential to regions of low water
potential.
The cell is more concentrated than the
surrounding cells
Water molecules diffuse into the cell via
osmosis (turgid).
The cell is less concentrated than the
surrounding cells
Water molecules will leave the cell, making Animal cells are likely to
suffer damage as a result of
it flaccid and leading to plasmolysis. osmosis.
 Definition:
3.3 ACTIVE TRANSPORT
The movement of molecules against
a concentration gradient using
energy from respiration.
Molecules are actively transported
through a cell membrane from
regions of low concentrations to
regions of higher concentration.

ATP
Some cells use phygocytosis

For particles that are too large to

cross a membrane by diffusion or
active transport.
Used by white blood cell.
 CARRIER PROTEIN

Molecules from the

side with lower
Facilitate active
concentration bind
transport
to the carrier
protein

The carrier protein

then changes
Embedded in the shape using energy
ATP from respiration
cell membrane
and allow passage
through it
Forces the molecule
to move through the
membrane to the
side with high
concentration
 EXAMPLE OF ACTIVE TRANSPORT

Uptake of ions by root hair cells Uptake of glucose

Plants take up ions (eg. Glucose is taken up in the

nitrates and magnesium) from small intestine and kidney
the soil via root hair cells. tubules.
The concentration of ions in Glucose moves against the
the root hair cell is greater concentration gradient
than the concentration of ions through carrier proteins.
in the soil.
Energy from respiration is
used to transport ions into the
cell against the concentration
gradient.
YOUTUBE VIDEO
 ACTIVITY 1
Sugar molecule
Osmosis

The movement of solvent (water) from a

region of higher water potential (dilute
solution) to a region of lower water
potential (concentrated solution), through
a partially permeable membrane.
From low to high solute concentration.
From high to low solvent concentration.
Only solvent moves
 ACTIVITY 1

Active transport

The movement of molecules and ions in or

outside cell
out of a cell through the cell membrane,
against a concentration gradient, using
energy from respiration.
ATP From low concentrations of molecules and
ions to high concentrations.
inside cell
ACTIVITY 1

Diffusion

The net movement of molecules and ions

from a region of higher concentration to
a region of lower concentration
The movement is down a concentration
gradient, as a result of their random
movement.
Both solvent and solute move.
 How does ACTIVITY 1
oxygen move
from the alveoli
into the blood?

By which process Diffusion

do all substances
pass between the
fetus and the
Osmosis
mother in the
placenta

Active Transport
ACTIVITY 2

Quizizz
 MOVEMENT IN
AND OUT OF
Passive Transport CELLS Active Transport

Movement against
Diffusion Osmosis concentration gradient

From higher concentration From lower concentration Using energy from

to lower concentration to higher concentration respiration

Down a concentration From higher water potential

gradient (dilute solution) to lower water Phagocytosis
potential (concentrated
solution)
Random movement /
kinetic energy
Pass through a partially
permeable membrane