Homeostasis in Cell

Cell – building block of an organism

 The human body is made up of

trillions of cells
 Cell needs food
 Cell produces waste
Parts of the Cell
Area of space outside
the nucleus which
consists of CYTOSOL

membrane-bound
organelle that
contains the DNA

double layer of lipids and

proteins that surrounds
a cell
How Do Cells
Maintain
Homeostasis?
Cell Transportation
In order to survive and function properly, cells need to move gases,
ions, nutrients, and waste material in and out across their
selectively permeable membrane.
Cell membrane-A closer look

CELL MEMBRANE
The function of the Cell Membrane
 The cell membrane separates the
components of a cell from its
environment—surrounds the cell
 “Gatekeeper” of the cell—regulates the
flow of materials into and out of the cell
—selectively permeable
 It is the center for keeping homeostasis
in a cell
 Selectively Permeable
 The cell membrane is selectively permeable, meaning some substances can pass
through the cell membrane, but others can’t!
 “Permeable” is the ability for something to pass through
Cell Membrane Structure

Lipid Bilayer: a double

layer of phospholipids
that make up the cell
membrane
Polar have Non-polar have
UNEQUAL sharing EQUAL sharing of
of electrons
electrons
Phospholipid
 Phosphate Head:
 Polar
 Hydrophilic (attracted to
water)
 Two Fatty Acid Tails:
 Nonpolar
 Hydrophobic (avoids water)

 Two Layers
 Outsides: Polar Heads
 Inside: Nonpolar Tails
Terms to Know
Solvent: does the dissolving, like water
Solute –the substance that gets
dissolved in the water.
Solution – a mixture in which two or
more substances are mixed evenly.

Concentration – the amount of solute in

a solution.
Concentration Gradients
 A concentration gradient is the difference in the concentration, or
amount, of something in a space
− In the box below, the dots have a higher concentration on the left than
the right, so they begin a movement to the right

 When the concentration gradient is the same throughout the area, it is in

a dynamic equilibrium
− Particles are moving from one side to the other, but at the same rate.
Methods to move substances across the plasma membrane
 Passive Transport
 Movement of a substance into/out of a cell without using energy
 Substances must be small (Water, CO2, and Oxygen) Weeee!!!

 HIGH  LOW concentration

 3 Types
high
− Simple Diffusion
− Osmosis low

− Facilitated Diffusion
About Concentration…
 Usually Substances move from HIGHLOW concentration

 But what do we mean by concentration?

 Means amount dissolved in a container

 How do you like your sweet tea?
a. Unsweet (low concentration of sugar)
b. Sweet
c. Super sweet(high concentration of sugar)

 Solute = Substance dissolved in water

 Simple Diffusion
• Diffusion is the movement of small
particles across a cell membrane until
equilibrium is reached.
These particles move from an area of
high concentration to an area of low
concentration.

outside of cell

inside of cell
Facilitated Diffusion
 Some substances cannot diffuse passively across the membrane because
they are either insoluble in lipids or too big to pass through the pores.
 Facilitated diffusion is the transport of substances across the plasma
membrane from an area of higher concentration to a lower
concentration by means of a carrier molecule.
 This process does not require energy as the substances move along the
direction of their concentration gradients.

 There are two types of membrane proteins that are involved in

facilitated diffusion: They are Carrier protein and Chanel Protein
A carrier protein binds a substance. This triggers a change of shape of the carrier
protein allowing it to move the substance down the concentration gradient, to
the other side plasma membrane. Each carrier protein is typically specific for a
type of substance.
Facilitated Diffusion

Protein membrane changes shape help the

substance go in and out of the cell
The pore protein acts as hydrophilic pores through the membrane that
opens and allows certain types of substances to pass through. pore
protein does not bind the substance.
Passive transport: Facilitated diffusion
make (an action
polar or process) easy
or easier.

Phospholipid
Bilayer
Membrane
protein

Substances: small charged or polar solutes

 The transport of glucose and amino acids across
the plasma membrane takes place with the aid of
the membrane proteins. Besides, inorganic ions
such as sodium ion and potassium ion are also
carried across the membrane by facilitated
diffusion.
About Osmosis
 Water can move into or out of the cell, depending on the
environment (solution) that the cell is in
 Solvent + Solute = Solution
− Solvent does the dissolving (ex. Water)
− Solute substance dissolved
(ex. Salt)
Types of Solutions
 Isotonic Solution
 Hypotonic Solution
 Hypertonic Solution
 Cells in an isotonic solution

 Equal water and solute(salt)

concentrations inside and outside
the cell H2 O
 Dynamic Equilibrium H2 O

• Water in = Water out

 Cells keep the normal shape
 Solute/Solvent concentration is the
same inside and outside the cell. Water Molecule
Dissolved Molecule
Cells in a hypotonic solution

 Hypotonic solution: Is a solution

that has a lower concentration of
solutes or dissolved substances in
it. H2O

H2O
 In a hypotonic solution, solute
concentration is less than inside
the cell, therefore water enters a
cell by osmosis, causing the cell
to swell. Water Molecule
Dissolved Molecule
Cells in a hypertonic solution

 hypertonic solution: This is a

solution with a higher
concentration of solutes.
H2O
 In a hypertonic solution, water H2O
leaves a cell by osmosis, causing
the cell to shrink

Water Molecule
Dissolved Molecule
Necessity for Movement of Substances Across Plasma Membrane

 The cells in our body carry out cellular activities in order to survive. They
need certain substances from their outer environment. They also need to
get rid of certain substances.
 As all cells are surrounded by plasma membrane, these substances have
to be moved into and out of the cells across the plasma membrane.
 This movement is important as it provides the cells with nutrients such as
glucose, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, water and oxygen for
metabolism and growth.
 It helps to eliminate toxic waste products such as urea and carbon
dioxide, and secretes useful substances such as enzymes and hormones.
 It helps to regulate the concentrations of solutes and ions in the cell in
order to maintain a stable internal environment.