Movement in and out of cells

Cells need to take in oxygen and nutrients for respiration. They also need to remove waste
products such as CO2. The cell membrane controls movement of materials. Generally, this
is determined by the size of the molecule.
Smaller molecules move through more easily and quickly.

Diffusion

the movement of molecules from an area of high concentration to an

area of low concentration until the molecules are in equilibrium
(evenly mixed)

molecule
High concentration

Low concentration

Molecules move down a concentration gradient (high to low) until the molecules are in
equilibrium. Then, diffusion stops.

No energy is required

Only occurs with gases and liquids (not solids)

Examples of materials which move in and out of cells by diffusion:

.

Oxygen and carbon dioxide in the lungs

Antibodies diffuse in the placenta

Glucose

Amino acids

Small molecules like solutes and gases (e.g. glucose, amino acids and oxygen
moving into cell and carbon dioxide moving out).

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Osmosis

A form of diffusion but only involves water molecules. Only occurs across a
partially permeable membrane.

Partially permeable membrane

only allows certain molecules to pass across it, generally

it is only small molecules that can pass through.

Definition of osmosis

Osmosis is the movement of water molecules from an

area of high water potential to an area of low water
potential (concentration) across a partially permeable
membrane.

The rate of diffusion is increased across a shorter distance and if the concentration gradient
is steeper.
Partially
permeable
weak sucrose solution membrane
strong sucrose solution

high water potential

OSMOSIS
(many water molecules)

low water potential

(few water molecules)

Osmosis in plant and animal cells

Cytoplasm contains water
Animal Cell
Cell placed in solution with
much less water potential than
cytoplasm

Cell placed in a very high

water potential (e.g. water)
water moves into
cell by osmosis

cell bursts (lysed)

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cell loses water

cell shrinks (crenated)

Plant Cell
cell wall
vacuole
cell membrane
Cell placed in a very high
water potential (e.g. water)

Cell placed in solution with

much less water potential than
cytoplasm

Cytoplasm and vacuole lose water.

The cell membrane may pull away
from the cell wall as water is lost.
This is called plasmolysis. The cell
is called plasmolysed.

Cell swells but does not burst

because the cell wall resists the
increased pressure (cell wall is
strong and flexible).
The cell is turgid

Active Transport
substance
carrier
molecule

OUTSIDE
ATP

cell
membrane
ADP

INSIDE

Substance
combines with
carrier molecule

Carrier transports
substance across
membrane using
energy from ATP

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Substance is
released into cell

Active transport moves molecules against the concentration gradient.

against concentration
gradient
Low concentration

High concentration

NEEDS ENERGY unlike diffusion, which does not.

ATP

needs a protein carrier molecule to carry the molecules across the membrane.
can be used to carry into/out of a cell
-

Adenosine triphosphate
provides free energy for cells to do work
universal energy carrier in molecules
e.g. Active transport and muscle contraction
ATP is produced by respiration by breaking down glucose
ADP + P
A

broken
down

+
free energy
for work

High energy
bond
ADP is Adenosine diphosphate.

Examples of active transport

Kidney

glucose leaves blood passes into the kidney but must be reabsorbed into the
blood.
Tubule

Blood

Method

High glucose concentration

No glucose

Diffusion

Equal glucose concentration Equal glucose concentration

No glucose

No diffusion

High glucose concentration Active transport

Root Hair Cells

Minerals may be taken in from the soil using active transport when the concentration in the
soil is lower than that of the root hair cell.
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Endocytosis / Exocytosis
Some cells can take in (endocytosis) or expel (exocytosis) solid particles or drops of fluid
through the cell membrane. Endocytosis occurs in single celled animals such as
paramecium when they feed or in certain white blood cells when they engulf in bacteria
called phagocytosis.
Exocytosis takes place in the cells of some glands. A secretion forms vacuoles or granules
in the cytoplasm and these are expelled through the cell membrane to do their work outside
the cell.

nucleus bacterium

Cell membrane

Endocytis (phagocytosis) in a white blood cell

vacuole

Enzyme released

Exocytosis in a gland cell

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