Cell Structure & Function

Review; Diffusion, Osmosis

Learning Goals …
… review and revisit cell organelles and their specific functions
… differentiate between diffusion and osmosis, and explain how these
terms relate to cells
 Plant,
animal
Cell Organelle or both Function

cytoplasm • organelles are suspended in the cytoplasm

• made mostly of water
both • many chemical reactions take place in the
cytoplasm, allowing organelles to move
around
• can change from be “jelly-like” or liquid

cell membrane • flexible, double-layered

both
• supports the cell, allows some substances to
enter while keeping others out
• for example water and oxygen can pass
through but larger molecules like protein
cannot
 Plant,
Cell Organelle animal Function
or both

nucleus • roughly spherical structure

• contains genetic information that is stored
NUCLEAR on chromosomes
MEMBRANE • controls all cell activities in the cell
both • chromosomes contain DNA, which carries
coded instructions for all cell activity.
• when a cell divides, the DNA is copied so
that each new cell has a complete set of
chromosomes
chromatin
• a mass of very thin, tangled fibres
containing DNA
both • found in the nucleus
• genetic information of the cell which
coordinates the cell’s activities
 Plant,
Cell Organelle animal Function
or both

mitochondria • sometimes called the “power plants” of the

cell because they make energy available to
the cell
• reddish, oval structure
both • cells in which cellular respiration has to
happen very fast have many mitochondria
• cells that are fairly inactive tend to have
very few mitochondria
endoplasmic • three - dimensional network of branching
reticulum tubes and pockets
• rough ER have ribosomes attached
• fluid-filled tubes transport materials, such as
both
proteins, throughout the cell.
• in the brain, the ER assists with the
production of hormones
• in muscles, the ER is involved with muscle
contraction
 Plant,
animal
Cell Organelle or both Function

ribosomes
both • makes proteins

golgi bodies
• closely stacked and flattened
• located near ER
both • collect and process materials to be removed
from the cell
• they make and secrete mucus
 Plant,
Cell Organelle animal Function
or both

• a single layer of membrane enclosing fluid in a

vacuoles
sac
• animal cells have many small vacuoles that are
both often not visible
• plant cells have one central vacuole that is
visible under a microscope

• contain some substances

• remove unwanted substances from cell
• maintaining internal fluid pressure (turgor)
within the cell
• when bacteria are “engulfed,” a portion of the
cell membrane turns inside out and forms a
vacuole inside the cell until the engulfed object
is digested
 Plant,
Cell Organelle animal Function
or both

lysosome
• contain enzymes (proteins) that can break
animal down molecules (food, bacteria, wastes, the
cell itself)

cell wall • found just outside the cell membrane of a

plant cell
plant • rigid but porous, made of cellulose
• provides support
• protects from physical injury

chloroplast • contain chlorophyll and gives leaves their

green colour
• absorb light energy
plant • photosynthesis takes place – the process of
converting carbon dioxide and water into
glucose and oxygen
MOVEMENT ACROSS A MEMBRANE

DIFFUSION

AND

OSMOSIS
DIFFUSION
• movement of a substance from an area of HIGH
concentration to an area of LOW concentration
• move with the concentration gradient
• does not use energy
Before Diffusion After Diffusion
There is a higher concentration of The concentration of molecules is the
molecules outside the cell than inside same outside and inside the cell.
the cell.
 FACTORS THAT AFFECT THE RATE OF DIFFUSION
1. Surface Area of Cell Membrane
• diffusion is quicker if the cell membrane has a larger surface area

2. Concentration Gradient (difference)

• the greater the difference, the more rapid the rate of diffusion

3. Diffusion Distance
• the smaller the distance the substance has to travel, the greater
the rate of diffusion
 FACTORS THAT AFFECT THE RATE OF DIFFUSION

4. Temperature
• at a higher temperature the particles have more energy and are
moving faster, resulting in a faster rate of diffusion.

5. Size of Particle
• the smaller the particle, the faster the rate of diffusion.

Note: Molecules of gas (O2, CO2) must be dissolved in a liquid before it

may diffuse across in the body
 OSMOSIS
• Movement of WATER from an area of LOW concentration to
an area of HIGH concentration

Note: Water moves until its concentration is the same on

both sides of the membrane
What happens to a cell when placed in different
types of solutions?
Isotonic Solution
• a solution that has equal
osmotic pressure to the cell.
water will move freely into
• solution has equal solute and and out of the cell
water concentration to the cell.
Hypertonic Solution water will move
out of the cell
• a solution that has higher
osmotic pressure than the cell.
• solution has more solute and
less water than the cell.

• an animal cell will shrivel

• a plant cell will become flaccid
Hypotonic Solution water will move
in to the cell
• a solution that has lower osmotic
pressure than the cell.
• solution has less solute and more
water than the cell.

• an animal cell will swell and may

burst
• a plant cell will become turgid
Ex. A red blood cell is about 80% water; if a red blood cell is
put into pure water it will burst! Why?

There is a higher concentration of

water outside the cell than inside
(hypotonic) so water will move from
the area of high concentration to the
area of low concentration, moving
from the pure water into the cell.

The cell will swell as the osmotic

pressure builds eventually the cell will
burst.
Ex. What would happen if a red blood cell was put in a
solution of 30% salt and 70% water?

Since the cell is 80% water, the

concentration of water is now
greater inside the cell
(hypertonic) so water will leave
the cell causing the cell to
shrivel.
 HOMEWORK
 Discovering Organelles Concept Map
 WS: Diffusion and Osmosis