NAME______________________ DATE_________ PERIOD_________

Cell Membrane Coloring Worksheet

40 points

Composition of the Cell Membrane & Functions

The cell membrane is also called the plasma membrane and is made of a phospholipid
bilayer. The phospholipids have a hydrophilic (water attracting) head and two hydrophobic
(water repelling) tail. The head of a phospholipid is made of an alcohol and phosphate
group, while the tails are chains of fatty acids. Phospholipids can allow water and other
nonpolar molecules to pass through into or out of the cell. This is known as simple
diffusion because it does not require energy and the water or molecules are moving with
the concentration gradient. Some of the functions of the cell membrane include
protecting and enclosing the cell, giving shape to the cell, allowing transportation of
materials in and out of the cell, and carry out metabolic reactions near the inner surface
of the cell membrane. SKETCH AND LABEL a phospholipid coloring the heads red and the
tails blue.
Pg. 177 fig. 7.4 in Bio I whale book. Pg. 77 in the Honors owl book. 2 points
PHOSPHOLIPID

Another type of lipid in the cell membrane is cholesterol that makes the membrane
more fluid and adds to its flexibility. Embedded in the phospholipid bilayer are proteins
that also aid in diffusion and in cell recognition. Proteins called transport proteins go all
the way through the bilayer. Peripheral proteins are found only on one side of the
membrane. Integral proteins are also called membrane proteins. Large molecules like lipids
or carbohydrates use proteins to help move across cell membranes. Some of the
membrane proteins have carbohydrate chains called glycoproteins attached to help cells in
recognize each other and certain molecules.
List 4 functions of the cell or plasma membrane: 4 points

a. _________________________________________
b. _________________________________________
c. _________________________________________

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 d. _________________________________________

Correctly color code and identify the name for each part of the cell membrane.

Letter Name/Color Letter Name/Color

__A___ Phospholipid bilayer (no __H___ Peripheral protein (red)
color)
__B___ Integral protein (pink) __I___ Cholesterol (blue)
__F___ Fatty acid tails (orange) __C___ Glycoprotein (green)
__G___ Phosphate heads (yellow) __E___ Glycolipids (purple)

8 points

Match the cell membrane structure or its function with the correct letter from
the cell membrane diagram. See in the info on the first page for help.
6 points
Letter Structure/Function Letter Structure/Function

_____ Attracts water _____ Repels water

_____ Helps maintain _____ Make up the two layers

flexibility of membrane
_____ Involved in cell-to-cell _____ Help transport certain
recognition materials across the cell

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 membrane

5 points
Osmosis and Tonicity
Define osmosis. _____________________________________
In which direction does water move across membranes, up or down the
concentration gradient? ________________
Define these 3 terms:
a. isotonic- _____________________________________
b. hypertonic _____________________________________
c. hypotonic _____________________________________

Use arrows to show the direction of water movement into or out

of each cell. Color and label the cell in an isotonic environment light
blue, the hypotonic environment yellow, and the hypertonic environment
light green.
3 points

Label the tonicity for each solution (isotonic, hypotonic, or

hypertonic):
3 points

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 ____________ ____________ ____________
3 points

____________ ____________ _ ___________

Transport Requiring Energy 3 points

What type of transport is represented by the following picture below:
Active or passive? _______________________
Is energy being used here? ______________
In which direction (concentration gradient), is the movement occurring:
with or against? _________________
Color the internal environment of the cell yellow. Color and Label the
transport proteins red and the substance being moved blue.

3 points