Cell Membrane Flashcards
Fluid Mosaic Model
The fluid mosaic model describes the structure of the plasma membrane as a mosaic of components, including phospholipids, cholesterol, various embedded proteins, and carbohydrates that give the membrane a fluid character.
Ampiphatic
to have both hydrophilic and hydrophobic parts
Semipermeable
Only some substances are able to pass through the membrane whilst others are kept out.
Structure of The phospholipids
Hydrophilic Head - Phosphate and Glycerol
Hydrophobic Tails - Saturated and Unsaturated fatty acids
Lipids - Hydrophobic or Hydrophilic?
Hydrophobic
Peripheral Proteins
Attached to the surface of the membrane
Transmembrane
Type of integral protein that goes straight through the membrane (embedded protein)
Glycoproteins and Glycolipids
- Cell identification
- Intercellular communication
- Cell membrane transport
Cholesterol
- Maintains fluidity when the temperature is low
- Maintains integrity when the temperature is high
Functions of the Plasma Membrane
- Compartmentalisation
- Material Transport
- Cell Recognition and Communication
- Packaging or Isolation of Substances
- Site of Chemical Reactions
- Allows the Cell to Change Shape
How do Lipid soluble substances cross the Plasma Membrane
Lipid Soluble substances dissolve straight through the plasma membrane
How do water-soluble substances cross the plasma membrane?
- Substances that are large but not polymers (including ions, charged molecules) like glucose cannot pass through so it passes through a protein carrier.
How do water and urea pass through the plasma membrane?
Water and Urea are polar uncharged molecules and are small enough to pass in between the phospholipids.
How do larger substances cross the plasma membrane?
Larger substances like polymers pass through the cell membrane via bulk transport (endocytosis and exocytosis)
How do small uncharged molecules pass through the plasma membrane?
Small uncharged molecules like oxygen and carbon dioxide are also able to pass through the phospholipid bilayer
What does passive mean?
Passive means requiring no energy
What are different types of passive transport?
- Osmosis
- Simple diffusion
- Facilitated diffusion
What are different types of Active Transport?
- Active Transport
- Bulk transport
- Endocytosis
- Exocytosis
What is Diffusion?
Diffusion is the passive movement of particles from a region of high solute concentration to a region of low solute concentration to achieve equilibrium.
Factors that affect the rate of diffusion
- particle size
- polarity/solubility
- charge
- heat
- state of matter
- surface area and to volume ratio
- concentration gradient
How does particle size affect the rate of diffusion?
small molecules such as gasses and water will diffuse through more rapidly than larger molecules
How does polarity affect the rate of diffusion?
non-polar substances diffuse directly through the membrane