Cell Membrane

Structure and
Function
Cell Membrane Function
 Selectively isolates the cell’s contents from
the external environment
 Regulates the exchange of essential
substances between the cell’s contents
and the external environment
 Communicates with other cells
Fluid Mosaic Model
 Shows the mixed composition of the cell
membrane
Plasma Membrane - Lipid bilayer
Cholesterol
Cell membranes are
SELECTIVELY PERMEABLE
 Membrane Proteins
Recognition Receptor
protein protein

extracellular
environment

lipid bilayer

cytoplasm

Protein Protein Protein pump

pump across channel
bilayer across bilayer Figure 4.4
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Concepts
 Fluid – any substance that can move or shape in
response to external forces without breaking apart
 Concentration - molecules in a fluid is the number of
molecules in a given unit of volume
 Gradient - physical difference in properties (temp,
concentration, pressure, electrical charge) of a particular
substance between two adjoining regions
 Diffusion – net movement of molecules from regions of
high conc. to regions of low conc.
 Dynamic equilibrium – evenly dispersed state of
molecules in the surroundings
How substances move across
membrane?
 Through diffusion
Movement across membrane
occurs by both passive and active
transport
 Passive transport –
relies on the innate
permeability of the cell
membrane and its
component proteins
and lipids.
Types of Passive Transport
 Simple Diffusion
 Facilitated Diffusion
 Osmosis
Simple Diffusion and Facilitated
Diffusion
Osmosis
 Diffusion of water across a selective
permeable membrane
 High water concentration to low water
concentration
Tonicity
 Refers to the relative solute concentrations
of two fluids
 Isotonic solution
 Hypertonic solution
 Hypotonic solution
Active Transport
 Cell energy requiring
 Move substances against a concentration
gradient (low conc. to high conc)
 Active transport proteins (pumps)
Exocytosis and Endocytosis
 A vesicle moves to  Cell takes in
the cell surface, and susbtances
the protein-studded - pinocytosis
lipid bilayer of its - receptor-mediated
membrane fuses with endocytosis
the cell membrane
- phagocytosis
Endocytosis