:

CELL STRUCTURE AND

FUNCTIONS

2.0 Cell Structure And

Functions
2.1 Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic cells
2.2 Microscopic structures of plant and animal
cells
2.3 Structure and functions : cell membrane
and organelles
2.4 Cells are grouped into tissues and organs
2.5 Transport across membrane

Learning Outcomes :
2.5 Explain the various transport mechanisms across the membrane
i) Passive Transport (Simple diffusion, Facilitated diffusion and Osmosis)
ii) Active Transport (Sodium-Potassium Pump, Endocytosis and Exocytosis)

TRANSPORT ACROSS MEMBRANE

Substances move in and out of cells by the

following processes:
(1) Passive transport
(a) Diffusion
(b) Facilitated diffusion
(c) Osmosis
(2) Active transport
Sodium-Potassium Pump

Endocytosis and Exocytosis

Learning Outcomes :
2.5 Explain the various transport mechanisms across the membrane
i) Passive Transport (Simple diffusion, Facilitated diffusion and Osmosis)

PASSIVE TRANSPORT
Definition:
Movement of substances from higher
concentration to lower concentration
(down a concentration gradient) across a
selective permeable membrane without using
energy.

Learning Outcomes :
2.5 Explain the various transport mechanisms across the membrane
i) Passive Transport (Simple diffusion, Facilitated diffusion and Osmosis)

SIMPLE DIFFUSION
Definition:
Small, non-polar molecules / lipid soluble can
diffuse easily across plasma membrane without
the help of transport protein down the
concentration gradient until equilibrium is
reached and does not require energy

Learning Outcomes :
2.5 Explain the various transport mechanisms across the membrane
i) Passive Transport (Simple diffusion, Facilitated diffusion and Osmosis)

SIMPLE DIFFUSION

Learning Outcomes :
2.5 Explain the various transport mechanisms across the membrane
i) Passive Transport (Simple diffusion, Facilitated diffusion and Osmosis)

SIMPLE DIFFUSION

Learning Outcomes :
2.5 Explain the various transport mechanisms across the membrane
i) Passive Transport (Simple diffusion, Facilitated diffusion and Osmosis)

SIMPLE DIFFUSION
Rate of diffusion increase when.
Diffusion takes place in gas rather than in liquid
At higher temperature
Small size of molecules involve-faster
Large difference in concentration

Learning Outcomes :
2.5 Explain the various transport mechanisms across the membrane
i) Passive Transport (Simple diffusion, Facilitated diffusion and Osmosis)

FACILITATED DIFFUSION
Definition:
Ions and polar molecules can diffuse through
transport protein down the concentration
gradient without using energy.

Learning Outcomes :
2.5 Explain the various transport mechanisms across the membrane
i) Passive Transport (Simple diffusion, Facilitated diffusion and Osmosis)

FACILITATED DIFFUSION

Learning Outcomes :
2.5 Explain the various transport mechanisms across the membrane
i) Passive Transport (Simple diffusion, Facilitated diffusion and Osmosis)

OSMOSIS
Definition:
Movement of water molecules across a
selective permeable membrane from higher
water potential to lower water potential without
using energy.

Learning Outcomes :
2.5 Explain the various transport mechanisms across the membrane
i) Passive Transport (Simple diffusion, Facilitated diffusion and Osmosis)

OSMOSIS

Learning Outcomes :
2.5 Explain the various transport mechanisms across the membrane
i) Passive Transport (Simple diffusion, Facilitated diffusion and Osmosis)

HYPOTONIC SOLUTIONS
Low concentration of solute relative to
another solution (e.g. the cell's cytoplasm).

What happens when cell is placed in

hypotonic solution??

Learning Outcomes :
2.5 Explain the various transport mechanisms across the membrane
i) Passive Transport (Simple diffusion, Facilitated diffusion and Osmosis)

PLANT CELL
- Concentration of solute in the cell
is higher (lower water potential)
,concentration of solute outside the
cell is lower (higher water potential)

- Water from the outside enters the

cell-by osmosis (down water
potential gradient)

-The cell become turgid / swell

Learning Outcomes :
2.5 Explain the various transport mechanisms across the membrane
i) Passive Transport (Simple diffusion, Facilitated diffusion and Osmosis)

ANIMAL CELL
- Concentration of solute in the cell is
higher (lower water potential),
concentration of solute outside the
cell is lower (higher water potential)
- Water from the outside enters the
cell-by osmosis (down water
potential gradient)
-The cell swell and burst or the cell
become haemolysed (for
hemoglobin)

Learning Outcomes :
2.5 Explain the various transport mechanisms across the membrane
i) Passive Transport (Simple diffusion, Facilitated diffusion and Osmosis)

HYPERTONIC SOLUTIONS
High concentration of solute relative to
another solution (e.g. the cell's cytoplasm).
What happens when a cell is placed in
hypertonic solution??

Learning Outcomes :
2.5 Explain the various transport mechanisms across the membrane
i) Passive Transport (Simple diffusion, Facilitated diffusion and Osmosis)

PLANT CELL

1. Concentration of solute in the cell

is lower (higher water
potential),concentration of solute
outside the cell is higher (lower
water potential)
2. Water moves out of the cell -by
osmosis
3. The vacuole shrinks
4. Plasma membrane detached and
pulled away from the cell wall
5. The cell is said to be plasmolysed

Learning Outcomes :
2.5 Explain the various transport mechanisms across the membrane
i) Passive Transport (Simple diffusion, Facilitated diffusion and Osmosis)

ANIMAL CELL
1. Concentration of solute in the cell
is lower (higher water
potential),concentration of solute
outside the cell is higher (lower
water potential)
2. Water moves out of the cell -by
osmosis
3. The cell shrinks and become
crenated

Learning Outcomes :
2.5 Explain the various transport mechanisms across the membrane
i) Passive Transport (Simple diffusion, Facilitated diffusion and Osmosis)

ISOTONIC SOLUTIONS
Same concentration of solute as an another
solution (e.g. the cell's cytoplasm).
Cell placed in isotonic solution
- water diffuses / moves into and out of the cell
at the same rate

Learning Outcomes :
2.5 Explain the various transport mechanisms across the membrane
i) Passive Transport (Simple diffusion, Facilitated diffusion and Osmosis)

Solution

Hypotonic

Isotonic

Hypertonic

Learning Outcomes :
2.5 Explain the various transport mechanisms across the membrane
i) Passive Transport (Simple diffusion, Facilitated diffusion and Osmosis)

Water movement and the concept of

water potentialI
i) Water molecules possess kinetic energy
which means that they are continually moving
around when in a gas or liquid state.
ii) Water potential
term given to the tendency for water molecules to
move from one area to another due to osmosis

Learning Outcomes :
2.5 Explain the various transport mechanisms across the membrane
i) Passive Transport (Simple diffusion, Facilitated diffusion and Osmosis)

Water movement and the concept of

water potentialI
Water potential
Term derive from thermodynamics and is a measure
of the free kinetic energy of water molecules in
solution
The higher concentration of water molecules in a
system, the greater total of kinetic energy of water
molecules in that system and also the higher its
water potential

Learning Outcomes :
2.5 Explain the various transport mechanisms across the membrane
i) Passive Transport (Simple diffusion, Facilitated diffusion and Osmosis)

Water movement and the concept of

water potentialI
- Pure water has the highest water potential
= (0 kPa).
- Solution (at atmospheric pressure) has negative water
potential value
- Dissolving solute molecules in pure water will reduce
the water potential.
- Water diffuses from region of higher water potential;
(less negative or zero value) to a region of lower water
potential (more negative value)

Learning Outcomes :
2.5 Explain the various transport mechanisms across the membrane
i) Passive Transport (Simple diffusion, Facilitated diffusion and Osmosis)

COMPONENT OF WATER POTENTIAL

Two important factors :

Direction of water movement depends on

i)solute potential (s) and
ii)pressure potential (p)
Water potential is affected by both solute
potential and pressure potential.

Water potential,
= solute potential (s) + pressure potential (p)

Learning Outcomes :
2.5 Explain the various transport mechanisms across the membrane
i) Passive Transport (Simple diffusion, Facilitated diffusion and Osmosis)

SOLUTE POTENTIAL (s)

also known as osmotic potential.

The potential or force of attraction towards water

molecules caused by dissolved substances (solutes)
inside the solution

Solute potential is a measure of the change in water

potential of a system due to the presence of solute
molecules

Learning Outcomes :
2.5 Explain the various transport mechanisms across the membrane
i) Passive Transport (Simple diffusion, Facilitated diffusion and Osmosis)

SOLUTE POTENTIAL (s)

When solute is dissolved in water, solute potential

become lower (more negative) and water potential
also become lower (more negative)

Solute potential is always negative

Learning Outcomes :
2.5 Explain the various transport mechanisms across the membrane
i) Passive Transport (Simple diffusion, Facilitated diffusion and Osmosis)

PRESSURE POTENTIAL (p)

When water enters plant cells by osmosis, pressure can

build up inside the cell, and the cell becomes turgid. This
increases the pressure potential.

Pressure potentials are usually positive

In plasmolysed cell, pressure potential is almost zero (0

kPa)

Pressure potential can become negative when water is

pulled in xylem vessel as a result of transpiration

Learning Outcomes :
2.5 Explain the various transport mechanisms across the membrane
i) Passive Transport (Simple diffusion, Facilitated diffusion and Osmosis)

PRESSURE POTENTIAL (p)

Pressure potential gradients are responsible for

upward movements of water in the xylem.

water potential
= solute potential + pressure potential
= s + p

Learning Outcomes :
2.5 Explain the various transport mechanisms across the membrane
i) Passive Transport (Simple diffusion, Facilitated diffusion and Osmosis)

Example:
1. Diagram shows 2 adjacent cells & their value s & p are
given in kPa.
CELL A

CELL B

s = -2200

s = -1600

p = 1000

p = 800

i) Give the definition of osmosis in terms of water potential.

ii) State the direction of water flow between the 2 cells &
give a reason for your answer.

Learning Outcomes :
2.5 Explain the various transport mechanisms across the membrane
i) Passive Transport (Simple diffusion, Facilitated diffusion and Osmosis)

i) Give the definition of osmosis in terms of water

potential.
- Osmosis is movement of water molecules across a
selective permeable membrane from higher water
potential to lower water potential without using energy.

Learning Outcomes :
2.5 Explain the various transport mechanisms across the membrane
i) Passive Transport (Simple diffusion, Facilitated diffusion and Osmosis)

ii. State the direction of water flow between the 2 cells &
give a reason for your answer.
Cell A, = s + p
= -2200 + 1000
= -1200
Cell B, = s + p
= -1600 + 800
= -800
So, water flow from Cell B to Cell A.
Reason : in osmosis water flow from higher to lower

Learning Outcomes :
2.5 Explain the various transport mechanisms across the membrane
i) Passive Transport (Simple diffusion, Facilitated diffusion and Osmosis)

Example:
1. Diagram below shows a plant cell immersed in a sucrose
solution. The pressure potential (p) and the solute potential
(s) of the cell and of the sucrose solution are shown in diagram
below
s sucrose solution = -1000 kPa
Plant cell
p = 200 kPa
s = -500 kPa

i) Calculate the water potential of this cell. show your

calculation
ii) State wether water will move in or out of the cell.

Learning Outcomes :
2.5 Explain the various transport mechanisms across the membrane
i) Passive Transport (Simple diffusion, Facilitated diffusion and Osmosis)

i) Calculate the water potential of this cell. show your

calculation
Plant cell, = s + p
= -500 kPa + 200 kPa
= -300 kPa
ii) State wether water will move in or out of the cell.
- Water will move out of the cell by osmosis
- Because the cell has higher water potential than the
Surrounding solution.

Learning Outcomes :
2.5 Explain the various transport mechanisms across the membrane
ii) Active Transport (Sodium-Potassium Pump, Endocytosis and Exocytosis)

ACTIVE TRANSPORT

Definition :
Movement of substances against the
concentration gradient across a selective
permeable membrane which requires energy and
carrier proteins
Important in maintaining ion concentration in
cells and between cells.

Learning Outcomes :
2.5 Explain the various transport mechanisms across the membrane
ii) Active Transport (Sodium-Potassium Pump, Endocytosis and Exocytosis)

ACTIVE TRANSPORT
Active transport
THREE TYPES OF ACTIVE
TRANSPORT

Cell membrane
pumps
(Na + K + pump)

Endocytosis

Exocytosis

Learning Outcomes :
2.5 Explain the various transport mechanisms across the membrane
ii) Active Transport (Sodium-Potassium Pump, Endocytosis and Exocytosis)

ACTIVE TRANSPORT
Plant Nutrients are more concentrated inside the
roots than in the surrounding soil.

Active Transport in the root cell membrane

enables the plant to absorb the nutrients from
the soil against the Concentration Gradient.

Learning Outcomes :
2.5 Explain the various transport mechanisms across the membrane
ii) Active Transport (Sodium-Potassium Pump, Endocytosis and Exocytosis)

ACTIVE TRANSPORT

Learning Outcomes :
2.5 Explain the various transport mechanisms across the membrane
ii) Active Transport (Sodium-Potassium Pump, Endocytosis and Exocytosis)

SODIUM POTASSIUM PUMP

ARE IMPORTANT FOR:

Muscle contraction
The transmission of nerve impulses
The absorption of nutrients (in the gut)
Active uptake of ions by plant roots
Sodium-potassium pumps in animal cells pump 3
sodium (Na+) OUT and 2 potassium (K+) IN against their
concentration gradient

Learning Outcomes :
2.5 Explain the various transport mechanisms across the membrane
ii) Active Transport (Sodium-Potassium Pump, Endocytosis and Exocytosis)

SODIUM POTASSIUM PUMP

Cell must contain high concentration of potassium ion

(K+) & low concentration of sodium ion (Na+) to maintain
their volume and synthesising proteins & to conduct
more specific activities such as transmitting nerve
impulses

Involves special molecules located on the cell

membrane called pumps (globular protein).

Learning Outcomes :
2.5 Explain the various transport mechanisms across the membrane
ii) Active Transport (Sodium-Potassium Pump, Endocytosis and Exocytosis)

SODIUM POTASSIUM PUMP

The pump molecule picks up particular molecules and

transports them to the other side of the membrane.

These pump molecules requires ATP & specific to

particular molecules

Learning Outcomes :
2.5 Explain the various transport mechanisms across the membrane
ii) Active Transport (Sodium-Potassium Pump, Endocytosis and Exocytosis)

SODIUM POTASSIUM PUMP

Learning Outcomes :
2.5 Explain the various transport mechanisms across the membrane
ii) Active Transport (Sodium-Potassium Pump, Endocytosis and Exocytosis)

ENDOCYTOSIS
- Uptake of bulk substances into a cell through membrane
- Requires ATP energy
- Vesicle are formed by the invagination of the cell surface
membrane to surround the substance
- The VESICLE then fuse with other Organelles
(LYSOSOMES) or Release its contents into the Cytoplasm.
- If substance taken up is solid, it is known as phagocytosis
-If substance taken up is liquid, it is known as pinocytosis

Learning Outcomes :
2.5 Explain the various transport mechanisms across the membrane
ii) Active Transport (Sodium-Potassium Pump, Endocytosis and Exocytosis)

PHAGOCYTOSIS
- Cell engulfs large particle
- By wrapping pseudopodia around the
particle and forming a food vacuole
- Lysosome will fuse with the food vacuole to
digest the particle
e.g : engulfing of bacteria by the macrophage

Learning Outcomes :
2.5 Explain the various transport mechanisms across the membrane
ii) Active Transport (Sodium-Potassium Pump, Endocytosis and Exocytosis)

PINOCYTOSIS

cell encloses the small dissolved substances

The plasma membrane invaginates

and forming tiny pinocytic vesicle
The fluid contents of the vesicle will be slowly transferred
to the cytosol
e.g : taking in of dissolved solutes by absorptive cells of the
kidney and intestines

Learning Outcomes :
2.5 Explain the various transport mechanisms across the membrane
ii) Active Transport (Sodium-Potassium Pump, Endocytosis and Exocytosis)

PINOCYTOSIS

Learning Outcomes :
2.5 Explain the various transport mechanisms across the membrane
ii) Active Transport (Sodium-Potassium Pump, Endocytosis and Exocytosis)

EXOCYTOSIS

Release of substance out of a cell through membrane

Products MADE IN the Cell are Packaged in GOLGI

VESICLES, which then FUSE with the Cell Membrane
and Secrete Material OUT OF THE CELL.

Eg: certain cells in the pancreas manufacture the

hormone insulin and secrete it into the bloodstream by
exocytosis

Learning Outcomes :
2.5 Explain the various transport mechanisms across the membrane
ii) Active Transport (Sodium-Potassium Pump, Endocytosis and Exocytosis)

EXOCYTOSIS

Learning Outcomes :
2.5 Explain the various transport mechanisms across the membrane
ii) Active Transport (Sodium-Potassium Pump, Endocytosis and Exocytosis)

EXOCYTOSIS