TOPIC : MOVEMENT ACROSS THE PLASMA MEMBRANE

SUB TOPIC 3.1 : Analysing the movement of substances across the plasma membrane
Learning outcomes (LO) :

State the substances required by living cells

State the substances that have to be eliminated from cells
Explain the necessity for movement of substances across the plasma membrane
Describe the structure of the plasma membrane,
Describe the permeability of the plasma membrane
Explain the movement of soluble substances across the plasma membrane through the
process of passive transport,
Explain the movement of water molecules across the plasma membrane by osmosis
Explain the movement of substances across the plasma membrane through the process of
active transport .
Explain the process of passive transport in living organism using examples
Explain the process of active transport in living organism using examples.
Compare and contrast passive transport and active transport.

1.

Substances

Required

Water
Amino acid
Glycerol

Eliminated

Fatty acid

Carbon dioxide

Minerals
Vitamin

Ammonium ions

(a) Fill in the blanks with the correct answer.

It is necessary for substances to move across the plasma membrane to _________________
the concentration of ions, molecules or substances

inside and outside of the cell at

____________ level for cells to continue their life processes.

2.

Structure of plasma membrane

Name (N)
Characteristi
c (C)
Function
(F)

Pore protein
Has a _____________

Embedded in phospholipid bilayer

To allow _________, water -soluble and
charged molecules to pass through the
plasma membrane

Name (N)
Characteristi
c (C)
Function
(F)

__________________
Has ____________ head and
______________ tails
Arranged in two layers (bilayer)
To allow small, uncharged and fat-soluble

molecules to pass through the plasma

membrane

Name (N)
Characteristi
c (C)
Function
(F)

Carrier protein
Has an ______________

Embedded in phospholipids bilayer

To allow big and _________________
molecules to pass through the plasma
membrane

(a) Draw and label the typical structure of plasma membrane.

3.

Movement of substances

Passive Transport
Molecules or ions
Examples :
Sodium ions
Simple diffusion
Small, ___________and uncharged molecules
Examples :
Carbon dioxide
Oxygen
________________
Fatty acids
Glycerol

Osmosis
Water molecules

Big, water-soluble and uncharged

Small
molecules
and charged
through
molecules
carrier through
protein pore protein
Examples :
Examples :
Glucose
ions
___________

4.

Passive transport
(i)

Simple diffusion
Classification : Process
(Cl)
Simple diffusion
(N)

Characteristics : 1. Transport of substances or molecules

(Cr)
2. Down the concentration gradients
3. Without energy
Significance : The process continues until dynamic equilibrium
(S)
is achieved

(a) Fill in the blank with the correct answer.

Simple diffusion is a _____________ of transporting substances or molecules from a region of

higher concentration to a region of _______________ concentration without energy. The process
continues until dynamic equilibrium is achieved

Example : Gaseous exchange between alveolus and blood capillary

5

Alveolus

CO2
O2

Blood
capillary

O2
CO2
Object:

Oxygen (partial pressure)

Object : Carbon dioxide (partial pressure)

Condition : Higher in the alveolus than in

the blood capillary

Condition : Higher in the blood capillary than

in the alveolus

Cause & Effect : Oxygen diffuse into the

blood capillary by simple diffusion

Cause & Effect : Carbon dioxide diffuse into

the alveolus by simple diffusion

Result : Oxygen is transported to the heart

Result : Carbon dioxide is expelled from the

(a) Explain the process of gaseous exchange in Amoeba.

Concentration of oxygen outside of Amoeba is ___________ than inside of Amoeba. Oxygen
diffuse into the

Amoeba by ________________.

Oxygen will be used for cellular respiration.

Concentration of carbon dioxide inside the Amoeba is higher than outside of Amoeba. Carbon dioxide
diffuse out by simple diffusion. Carbon dioxide is ______________ from the Amoeba.

(ii)

Facilitated diffusion
Classification : Process
(Cl) 6

Facilitated diffusion
(N)

Characteristics : 1.
(Cr)
2.
3.
4.

Transport of big molecules or ions

Down the concentration gradients
Without energy
Through pore or carrier protein

Function : To transport big and specific molecules

(F)
across the plasma membrane

(a) Fill in the blank with the correct answer.

Facilitated diffusion is a process of transporting big molecules or ions from a region of _________
concentration to a region of __________ concentration without energy. The process occurs through
pore protein or _____________to transport big and specific molecules into the cell.

Example : Absorption of nutrients in the villus

Glucose
Object : Glucose (concentration)
Condition : higher in the small intestine compared to the
Blood
capillary

blood capillary (of the villus)

Cause & Effect : glucose molecules diffuse into the villus
by facilitated diffusion
Result : Glucose molecules are transported to the liver

(iii)

Osmosis
Classification : Process (movement)
(Cl) 7

Osmosis
(N)

Characteristics : 1.
(Cr)
2.
3.
4.

Movement of water molecules

Down the concentration gradients
Without energy
Through semi-permeable membrane

Significance : Results in dynamic equilibrium

(S)

(a) Fill in the blank with the correct answer.

_____________ is a process of water movement from a region of higher concentration of water to a
region of lower concentration without energy through ____________________ membrane.. The
process occurs until dynamic equilibrium is achieved.

Example : Absorption of water by root hair cells

Soil
particle

Object : Water (concentration)

Condition : higher in the soil solution compared to the
cell sap of root hair cell
Cause & Effect : water molecules diffuse into the root
hair cell by osmosis

Root
hair cell

Result : The cell sap of root hair cell become dilute

Water
molecules

(a)
Concentration of water molecules in the soil
solution is higher than in the cell sap of root
hair cells
8

The cell sap of the root hair cells become

dilute.

5. Active transport

Active transport
(N)

Classification : Process
(Cl)
Characteristics : 1. Transport of substances or ions
(Cr)
2. Against concentration gradients
3. Use energy
Significance : Results in elimination or accumulation
(S)
of substances

(a) Fill in the blank with the correct answer.

Active transport is a process of transporting substances or _______ from a region of lower
concentration to a region of higher concentration across the plasma membrane using _________.
This type of transport results in the _______________ or ________________ of molecules and ions
from the cell.
Example : Sodium-Potassium pump

Object : Potassium ions (concentration)

Object : Sodium ions (concentration)

Condition : higher inside the cell than outside the

cell
Cause & Effect : carrier protein transports

Condition : lower inside the cell than outside the

cell
Cause & Effect : carrier protein transports sodium
ion out of the cell by active
transport
Result : The concentration of sodium ions inside
the cell is always lower than outside of the
cell

potassium ion into the cell by

active transport
Result : The concentration of potassium ions inside
the cell is always higher than outside of the cell

(a) Name the process of movement of molecule from :

(i) Higher concentration to the lower concentration - __________________________
(ii)Lower concentration to the higher concentration - ___________________________

(b) Name the process of movement of substances across the plasma membrane for :
(i)

Water

(ii)

Glucose

_______________________________________________
:

______________________________________________
10

(iii)

Sodium ion

___________________________________________

(iv)

Fatty acid

(v)

Amino acid

(vi)

Vitamin A, D, E and K :

____________________________________________
:

_________________________________________
_________________________________

(c) Name the process for the following example.

(i)

Oxygen enters the cells

: _________________________________

(ii)

Absorption of glucose in the villus

(iii)

Absorption of water by the root hair of plant : _________________

(iv)

Absorption of potassium ion by plant root hair

(v)

Glycerol enters the cells

_____________________
: ______________

: _________________________________

6. Compare and contrast passive transport and active transport.

Similarity
Both passive and active transport allow substances to move across the plasma
membrane.
11

Differences
Passive transport

Aspect

Active transport
Active transport uses

Energy expenditure Passive transport does not use

energy from ATP.

energy.

Carrier protein

Simple diffusion does not

but
while

Movement of substances in
passive transport is from higher
gradient

carrier protein.

Facilitated diffusion requires

carrier protein.

,Concentration

Active transport requires

require carrier protein.

whereas

Movement of substances in
active transport is from

concentration region to low

lower concentration region

concentration region.

to higher concentration

(goes down the concentration

region.

gradient)

(against the concentration

gradient)

Equilibrium

Equilibrium will be achieved at

the end of the process.

Results in accumulation or
elimination.

(a) State the differences between passive transport and active transport.
(i)

(ii)

12

(iii)

(iv)

SUBTOPIC 3.3 : Appreciating the movement of substances across the plasma membrane
1. Things to ponder.
Dan tidaklah sama keadaan dua laut (sekalipun satu jenisnya), yang
satu tawar lagi memuaskan dahaga serta sesuai diminum, sementara
yang satu lagi masin lagi pahit dan (kedua-duanya itu berfaedah kepada
kamu): Dari tiap-tiap satunya kamu dapat makan daging yang lembut
hidup-hidup dan dapat pula kamu mengeluarkan benda-benda perhiasan
untuk kamu memakainya; (selain itu) engkau melihat pula kapal-kapal
membelah air belayar padanya; (diadakan semuanya itu) supaya kamu
dapat mencari rezeki dari limpah kurnia Allah dan supaya kamu
bersyukur. [Fathir, 012]

Dan Kami telah jadikan di bumi: Gunungganang yang menetapnya, yang tinggi
menjulang; dan Kami telah memberi minum
kepada kamu air yang tawar lagi
memuaskan dahaga? [Al Mursalat, 27]

13