Movement In and Out of Cells

What you will learn

The definition and the process of diffusion.
The definition and the process of osmosis.

Processes
Substances must be soluble before it can
move in and out of cells.
Processes Involved:
1.Diffusion
2.Osmosis

Diffusion
Definition:
Net movement of particles from a region of
their higher concentration to a region of their
lower concentration, down a concentration
gradient.
Diffusion is a passive process; it is non-energy
requiring

Diffusion
A concentration gradient or a diffusion
gradient refers to the difference in the
concentration of the molecules between
the two regions.

concentration
gradient

region of high concentration

of molecule X

molecule moves from a region of high

concentration to that of low concentration

region of low
concentration of
molecule X

Diffusion
How does diffusion work?

Region of high
concentration

Region of low
concentration

Diffusion
How does diffusion work?

Region of high
concentration

Region of low
concentration

Diffusion
How does diffusion work?
Net movement

Region
the
Region of high
same
concentration
concentration

Region
Region of
of the
low
same
concentration
concentration

Diffusion
Diffusion occurs in gases, liquids or solids
and it occurs in the presence or absence of
a partially permeable membrane.

Diffusion

The permeable membrane allows both sugar and

water molecules to pass through it.

Importance of Diffusion

Initially, the concentration

of a substance outside the
cell is higher than inside
the cell.
The particles diffuse
across the cell membrane.

Later, an equal
concentration of the
substance inside and
outside the cell is
attained.

Importance of Diffusion
Living cells continuously use up oxygen during aerobic
respiration.
The concentration of oxygen inside the cell falls.
Oxygen molecules diffuse into the cell until the oxygen
concentration is raised again.
During respiration, carbon dioxide is produced.
The concentration of carbon dioxide rises and creates a
concentration gradient.
carbon
dioxide

oxygen

Oxygen is supplied to Amoeba by diffusion. Diffusion enables

metabolic wastes such as carbon dioxide to be excreted out.

Factors affecting rate of diffusion

1. Distance it has to travel
Membranes of plant and animal cells are of
about the same in thickness and permeability.
Plant cell walls vary in their thickness. The
thicker the cell walls, the slower the rate of
diffusion.
2. Concentration Gradient
The greater the concentration gradient, the
higher the rate of diffusion

Factors affecting rate of diffusion

3. Temperature
An increase in temperature results in a higher
rate of diffusion.
4. Size of Particles
Small molecules or ions diffuse faster than
large ones.
5. Surface Area : Volume Ratio
The rate of diffusion into a cell depends on the
total surface area of the cell membrane. The
bigger the surface area, the higher the rate of
diffusion.

Osmosis
Definition:
Net movement of water molecules
from a region of higher water potential to a
region of lower water potential,
through a partially permeable membrane.
Osmosis is a special form of diffusion:
it involves water molecules
a partially permeable membrane must be
present

Osmosis
Demonstration of osmosis

Solution of high
conc of solutes

Sucrose
molecule

Partially
permeable
membrane

Solution of low
conc of solutes

Water
molecule

Osmosis and Animal Cells

Changes observed
under a microscope
when blood is
dropped into
hypertonic and
hypotonic solutions.

normal red blood cell

in hypertonic
solution

cell shrinks

cell becomes
crenated

in hypotonic
solution

cell swells

cell bursts and cell is said to

be haemolysed

Red blood cell haemolysed

Red blood cells crenate

Osmosis and Plant Cells

In plant cells, the cell sap contains
dissolved salts and sugar. If the cell sap
has a lower water potential than that of
the surrounding fluids, water from the
outside enters by osmosis.
Turgor A state when
a cell is firm or turgid due
to water entering the cell,
causing it to swell.

Turgor pressure
The outward pressure
which the cell sap
exerts against the
inside wall of
the cell

Osmosis and Plant Cells

cell sap more
concentrated than
outside solution
water enters
by osmosis

cellulose
cell wall

Plasmolysed cells. Water

is lost from its vacuole, the
cytoplasm shrinks and is
withdrawn from the cell
wall.

Turgid cells. The

cytoplasm is pressed
against the cell wall. The
cell swells up and is
prevented from bursting
by the cellulose cell wall.

plasma
membrane

cell sap less concentrated than

outside solution
water
leaves by
osmosis

cytoplasm

Importance of Tugor Pressure in

Plants
A plant whose roots are in water (or a wellwatered soil) has most of its cells in a state of
turgor.
=> turgidity of cells maintains
herbaceous plants, in an erect
position.
Plants need to remain erect for photosynthesis.

Importance of Tugor Pressure in

Plants
If water is lost excessively from the plant cells,
the cells become plasmolysed, the tissue
becomes flaccid, and the plants droops or
wilts.
wilting occurs when
rate of water loss > water gain

Active Transport
Transport of
substances into and
out of the cell(s)
against a
concentration
gradient with the
expenditure of
energy.

Active Transport
Eg. Uptake of ions by root hair cells
lower concentration
of mineral salts
energy

mineral salts
Higher
concentration of
mineral salts

Active Transport
Eg absorption in the small intestines
lower concentration
of glucose
glucose
energy

higher concentration
of glucose