Chapter 3

Movement of
Substances across
the Plasma
Membrane
Originally by : Lee Chee Teik

The Structure of Plasma

Membrane
Plasma

membrane, according to the

fluid mosaic model, are composed
mainly of phospholipids and proteins.
Each phospholipid molecule consists
of two parts:
a. A polar head that gives it a
hydrophilic property
b. A pair of non-polar fatty acid tails
that give it a hydrophobic property

 At the plasma membrane, phospholipids are

arranged in a double layer, called the
phospholipid bilayer

The fluid mosaic model proposed by S.J.Singer and G.L

Nicholson is currently the accepted view of the plasma
membrane

The permeability of the

plasma membrane
The plasma membrane is selectively
permeable ( semi-permeable /
partially permeable)
a) It only allows certain substances to
enter or leave the organelles.
b) Other examples visking tubings,
cellophane tape, egg membrane
,
c) TheNon-polar
phospholipid bilayer Small
is
molecules
( lipiduncharged
permeable
to

soluble)

molecules

Movement of membrane across

plasma membrane
Passive
Transport

Active
Transport

Molecules
transported
down the
concentration
gradient
Simple
diffusion

Osmosis

Molecules
transported
against the
concentration
gradient
Facilitated
diffusion

The movement of substances across

plasma membrane : passive transport

In passive transport, no energy is

used by the cell during the
movement of substances.
1. Simple diffusion
. Simple diffusion is the net
movement of molecules or ions
from a region of high concentration
A concentration gradient
to a region of lower
concentration,
is the difference in
concentration of a
that is, down the concentration
substance between two
gradient.
regions

 Diffusion

of substances occurs until

equilibrium is achieved.
Molecules which move across plasma
membrane by simple diffusion
include
Lipid-soluble molecules such as fatsoluble vitamins (A, D, E, K) ,
glycerol, steroid compounds and
fatty acids.
small, uncharged molecules such as

Simple
Diffusion
Lipid-soluble
( non-polar
molecules /
hydrophobic
molecules)

Fatty
acids
Glycerol

Steroid
compoun
Fatds

soluble
vitamins
(A,D,E,K)

Small ,
uncharged
molecules
Oxygen
Carbon
dioxide

2. Osmosis
Osmosis is the diffusion of water molecules
across a semi-permeable membrane.
It is the net movement of water molecules from
a region of higher water concentration( lower
solute concentration ) to a region of lower water
concentration ( higher solute concentration) until
a dynamic equilibrium is achieved.
The process of osmosis does not require energy
as water moves across a semi-permeable
membrane according to its concentration
gradient .

Similarities in simple
diffusion and osmosis
Does

not require the cell to use

energy.
Molecules move down the
concentration gradient.
Molecules will continue to move from
a region of higher concentration to a
region lower concentration until a
dynamic equilibrium is achieved. At
this point, the molecules are evenly
dispersed in the liquid and the

Differences between simple

diffusion and osmosis

Simple
diffusion

Osmosis

Involves the
movement of
any molecules
Does not
require a semipermeable

Involves only the

movement of
water molecules

Occurs through
a semipermeable

3. Facilitated diffusion
Facilitated diffusion is the movement of molecules or
ions across the plasma membrane with the help of
transport proteins
( carrier proteins and pore
proteins ).
Does not require energy because the transport
proteins move the molecules down the
concentration gradient.
Molecules which move across plasma membrane by
facilitated diffusion include:
Charged ions such as K+, Na+, Ca2+, Mg2+
Large molecules such as glucose and amino acid.

Facilitate
d
Diffusion
Lipid-insoluble ( polar
Lipid-insoluble ( polar
molecules /
hydrophilic
molecules )
Charge
d Ions

K+, Na+, Mg
2+, Ca 2+

Large
molecule
s

Glucose,
Amino acid