CHAPTER 3 :

MOVEMENT OF
SUBSTANCES ACROSS THE
PLASMA MEMBRANE
 SUBSTOPICS
3.1 - Movement of Substances Across the
Plasma Membrane
3.2 – Understanding the Movement of
Substances Across the Plasma
Membrane in Everyday Life
3.3 – Appreciating the Movement of
Substances Across the Plasma
Membrane
 LEARNING OUTCOMES
 To state the substances required by living
cells
 To state the substances that have to be
eliminated from cells
 To explain the necessity for movement of
substances across the plasma membrane
 To describe the structure of the plasma
membrane
 To describe the permeability of the plasma
membrane
 NECESSITY FOR MOVEMENT OF
SUBSTANCES ACROSS THE PLASMA
MEMBRANE
 To provide nutrients for metabolism &
growth;
 To supply oxygen for respiration;
 To regulate solute concentration &
suitable pH for maintaining a stable
internal environment for optimal
enzymatic activities
 To maintain an ion concentration
gradient required for nerve & muscle
cell activities;
To secrete useful substances, for
example, digestive enzymes &
hormones;
To eliminate toxic waste products
such as urea & carbon dioxide
Substances can move into or out
of a cell by :
Passive transport
Simple diffusion
Osmosis
Facilitated diffusion

Active transport
Movement of substances across
the plasma membrane would
depend on :

Selectivity of the partially

permeable membrane;
The difference in concentration
between the cell & extracellular
fluid
Structure of the Plasma
Membrane
 Structure of the Plasma
Membrane
 All cells are covered by a thin plasma
membrane.

 It separates the cell contents from the

surrounding

 1972, S.J. Singer & G.L. Nicolson

proposed the fluid-mosaic model of
plasma membrane.
 The plasma membrane is dynamic &
fluid. The phospholipid molecules can
move thus giving the membrane its
fluidity & flexibility

 The proteins are scattered in the

membrane giving it a mosaic
appearance

 Thickness : 7.0 – 8.0 nm.

 Structure of the Plasma
Membrane
 The membrane consists of
a phospholipid bilayer (2
molecules thick)

 The polar hydrophilic heads

– outer layer face
outwards, chemically
attracted to the watery
surrounding

 The non-polar hydrophobic

hydrocarbon fatty acid tails
– face inwards, away from
water.
 Structure of the Plasma
Membrane
 There are proteins on the outer & inner
surfaces of the plasma membrane.

 Some proteins penetrate partially

through the membrane, others
penetrate completely.

 The phospholipid bilayer is permeable

to diffusion of small uncharged
molecules such as O2 & CO2.
 Structure of the Plasma
Membrane
 Two types of transport protein :
 Channel / pore proteins – have pore to facilitate
diffusion of particular ions / molecules across the PM.

 Some carrier proteins – have binding sites that bind to

specific molecules such as glucose @ amino acids 
alter their shape to facilitate the diffusion of solutes.

 Other carrier proteins – function in active transport 

an energized carrier protein actively pumps the solute
across the cell membrane against the concentration
gradient.
 Structure of the Plasma
Membrane
 Cholesterol molecules stabilise the
structure of PM.
 MECHANISM OF
MOVEMENT OF
SUBSTANCES ACROSS
THE PLASMA MEMBRANE
PERMEABILITY
 A semipermeable @ partially permeable
membrane = selectively permeable to small
molecules such as water & glucose.

 Does not permit large molecule to move through

it.

 Examples : egg membrane, plasma membrane

of living cells & cellaphone membrane of the
Visking tubing.
 MECHANISM OF
MOVEMENT OF
SUBSTANCES ACROSS
THE PLASMA MEMBRANE
 A permeable membrane – permeable to the
many solvent (water) & solute molecules 
diffusion can occur.

 Example : cellulose cell wall of plant cell

 An impermeable membrane – not allow

substances to diffuse through it.

 Example : the impermeable polythene

membrane.
 LEARNING OUTCOMES
 To explain the movement of substances across
the plasma membrane through the process of
passive transport
 To explain the movement of water molecules
across the plasma membrane by osmosis,
 To explain the movement of substances across
the plasma membrane through the process of
active transport,
 To explain the process of passive transport in
living organisms using examples
 PASSIVE
TRANSPORT
 The movement of particles (molecules/ions)
within a gas or liquid across the plasma
membrane from a region of higher
concentration to a region of lower
concentration & does not require expenditure
of energy from ATP.

 The substances move down their concentration

gradient through different ways :
 Phospholipid bilayer
 Pore protein/ channel protein
 Carrier protein
PASSIVE
TRANSPORT
SIMPLE
DIFFUSION

OSMOSIS

FACILITATED
DIFFUSION
 SIMPLE DIFFUSION

 The net movement of molecules / ions

from a region of higher
concentration to a region of lower
concentration until an equilibrium
is reached.
 Substances :
Small non-polar molecules – O2 & CO2
Lipid-soluble substances – vitamins ADEK,
steroids & alcohols
Water molecules
 SIMPLE DIFFUSION

 The bigger the concentration gradient

the faster the rate of diffusion.
 These substances will diffuse down the
concentration gradient if there is a
concentration gradient. (until an
equilibrium is reached).
 Examples : gaseous exchange between
the alveolus & the blood capillaries,
blood capillaries & body cells.
 osmosis
 The diffusion of water molecules (solvent) from
a region of higher water concentration (diluted
solution) to a region of lower water
concentration (concentrated solution) through a
semi-permeable membrane until an equilibrium
is reached.

 A special type of diffusion.

 Examples :
Absorption of water from soil solution by plant root
hairs
Reabsorption of water by kidney tubules
FACILITATED DIFFUSION
 The movement of molecules / ions down
their concentration gradient assisted by
transport proteins (channel protein / pore
protein) across the plasma membrane
without using energy.

 The transport proteins facilitate & increase

the rate of diffusion across the plasma
membrane.

 Not require energy

FACILITATED DIFFUSION
 The rate of facilitated diffusion depends on the
number of transport protein molecules in the
membrane & how fast they can move their
specific solute.

 Only allows small charged molecules such as

mineral ions to pass through the pore protein.

 Carrier protein : allows larger uncharged

polar molecules – glucose & amino acids to
cross the membrane.
 THE MECHANISM
 The solute moves to the binding site of
the specific carrier protein.
 The solute binds to the carrier protein
at the binding site & triggers the
carrier protein to change its shape.
 The carrier protein changes its shape
& moves the solute across the
membrane.
 The carrier protein returns back to its
original shape.
FACILITATED DIFFUSION
 The solutes can be transported by
carrier proteins in either direction but
the net movement is always down the
concentration gradient.

 Examples : the transportation of

glucose, amino acids & mineral ions
across the membrane of the vilus at the
ileum & body cells.
 ACTIVE
TRANSPORT
 The movement of substances across the
plasma membrane from a region of low
concentration to a region of high
concentration (against the concentration
gradient) by using metabolic energy.

 The substances move across a membrane

against the concentration gradient, using
metabolic energy

 Perform by a specific protein embedded in the

plasma membrane.
 ACTIVE
TRANSPORT
 Require energy to change the shape of the
protein such that the substance can be
pumped across the membrane.

 Example : absorption of potassium ions from

pond water by algae Nitella sp. against a
concentration gradient, the intake of mineral
ions by the plant root hairs, Na+/ K+ protein
pumps in the plasma membrane of neurones
transport Na+ & K+ against their
concentration gradients.
 ACTIVE
TRANSPORT
 ACTIVE
TRANSPORT
 LEARNING OUTCOMES
 To explain the process of active transport
in living organisms using examples,
 To compare and contrast passive
transport & active transport.
COMPARISON BETWEEN PASSIVE & ACTIVE
TRANSPORT
PASSIVE SIMILARITIES ACTIVE
TRANSPORT TRANSPORT

DIFFERENCES
Concentration gradient
Cellular energy
Outcome of the
process
Occurs in
Name of process
Examples
 COMPARISON BETWEEN PASSIVE & ACTIVE
TRANSPORT
PASSIVE SIMILARITIES ACTIVE
TRANSPORT TRANSPORT
Transport of substances across the plasma membrane
Need a difference of concentration gradient between extracellular environment
& the cell
DIFFERENCES
Follow Concentration Against
gradient
Does not expend energy Cellular energy Need to expend energy
Until an equilibrium is Outcome of the Depends on the cells
reached process requirement (no need to
reach an equilibrium)
Non-living & living Occurs in Living organisms only
organisms
Simple diffusion, osmosis, Name of process Active transport
facilitated diffusion
Examples