Chapter 3

CELLULAR
TRANSPORT
MECHANISMS
 OBJECTIVES OF THE
LESSON
1. Describe the structural components of the cell membrane.
2. Relate the structure and composition of the cell membrane to
its function.
3. Explain the transport mechanisms in cells.
4. Differentiate exocytosis from endocytosis.
Membrane Transport
 MEMBRANE
TRANSPORT

CYTOSOL – the innert part of the

membrane

INSTERSTITIAL FLUID –
outside of the cell.
 TWO MAIN PROCESSES OF
MEMBRANE TRANSPORT
PASSIVE TRANSPORT
 Does not require energy.
 Substance moves down
concentration/electrical gradient.
 Moves from high concentration to
low concentration
ACTIVE TRANSPORT
- Active transport is the
movement of molecules or
ions against a concentration
gradient (from an area of
lower to higher
concentration), which does
not ordinarily occur, so
enzymes and energy are
required. 
 PASSIVE TRANSPORT

 Simple diffusion
 Facilitated diffusion
 osmosis
 Passive Transport

DIFFUSION
 Movement of the substance from high concentration to low concentration. The
tendency of the substance to spread evenly in a given space. Example is sugar in a
water.

CELLULAR DIFFUSION
- When a diffusion of a solute come across the plasma membrane from an area of
high concentration to low concentration. It depends on the interstitial and cytosol.
 Passive Transport
SIMPLE DIFFUSION
 Simple diffusion is the process by which
solutes are moved along a concentration
gradient in a solution or across a
semipermeable membrane.
 If the molecules are small enough and
non-polar, this simple diffusion can happen
across cell membranes, between the
individual phospholipids that make up
the membrane.
 Gases that a simple diffusion can move is
oxygen, fatty acids and carbon dioxide.
 TYPES OF DIFFUSION
FACILITATED DIFFUSION
 is the passive movement of molecules across the cell membrane via
the aid of a membrane protein
 It is utilized by molecules that are unable to freely cross the
phospholipid bilayer (e.g. large, polar molecules and ions)
 This process is mediated by two distinct types of transport proteins –
channel proteins and carrier proteins
 SECONDARY MEMBRANE
TRANSPORTS
SYMPORT ANTIPORT
 Two substances moved in same direction. - Two substances are moved in
opposite direction.
 Transports different types of molecules in
the cell membrane at the same time.

UNIPORT
- Transports substances in unidirectional
manner depending on the concentration
gradient.
 MEMBRANE TRANSPORT
ACTIVE TRANSPORT
VESICULAR TRANSPORT
 A transport of large substances like proteins and large carbohydrates across
the plasma membrane by a membranous sac/vesicle.

TWO TYPES OF VESICULAR TRANSPORT

1. Endocytosis
2. Exocytosis
TYPES OF VESICULAR TRANSPORT
EXOCYTOSIS
- Exocytosis is the process of moving
materials from within a cell to the
exterior of the cell. This process
requires energy and is therefore a
type of active transport.
ENDOCYTOSIS
- Intakes content from the outside of the cell.
Three Forms:
1. Phagocytosis – solid materials. Vesicle fuses
with a lysosome. Also called “cell eating”.
2. Pinocytosis – non-specific fluid. “cell drinking”.
3. Receptor Mediated endocytosis
- is a process by which cells absorb
metabolites, hormones, proteins – and in some
cases viruses – by the inward budding of the
plasma membrane (invagination).