The Cell Membrane-Homeostasis & Cellular Transport

Function of the Cell Membrane:

• Cell membrane separates the components of a
cell from its environment—surrounds the cell
• “Gatekeeper” of the cell—regulates the flow of
materials into and out of cell—selectively All Cells have a cell (plasma membrane):
permeable
• Cell membrane helps cells maintain • Prokaryotes (have a cell wall + cell membrane)
homeostasis—stable internal balance • Eukaryotes:
• a) Animal Cells ( cell membrane only)
The Cell Membrane & Homeostasis • b) Plant cells (cell membrane + cell
• The cell membrane is responsible for wall)
maintaining homeostasis (home-E-O-Stay-sis)
within the cell The cell membrane in detail
• Homeostasis is a stable, internal environment • It’s a double layer (bilayer) of phosphates, and
• The cell membrane maintains homeostasis fats (lipids)
through balancing the pH, temperature, • A single phospholipid has hydrophilic (water
glucose (sugar intake), water balance loving) phosphate heads AND hydrophobic
• It does this through active and passive (water hating) fatty acid tails
transport • The cell membrane both repels and attracts
• In homeostasis, everything is PERFECT water through the membrane at the same time
pH and homeostasis
• The pH of a solution tells how acidic or basic it
is.
pH ranges from a scale to 0-14
• Solutions with a pH from 0-6 are acidic
• Solutions with a pH of 8-14 are basic
• Solutions with a pH of 7 are Neutral.
If a solution’s pH is unbalanced, it is corrected with a
BUFFER. Passive Transport
A process that does not require energy to move
Is it Basic, Acidic, or Neutral? molecules from a HIGH to LOW concentration
• Orange juice w/ a pH of 2 ➢ Diffusion
• Gastric juices (stomach juices) w/ a pH of 1 ➢ Facilitated Diffusion (uses proteins to push
• Tap water w/ a pH of 7 particles across)
• Sodium hydroxide w/ a pH of 10 ➢ Osmosis
• Ammonia w/ a pH of 14
1 (acid)………………6 7(neutral) 8…………………14 (basic) • Diffusion is the movement of small particles
across the cell membrane like the cell
Cell Membrane aka “The Phospholipid Bilayer” membrane until homeostasis is reached.
• ALL cells have a cell membrane made of • Facilitated diffusion requires the help of carrier
Phosphate, proteins, and lipids and channel proteins
• That’s why it’s called the Phospholipid Bilayer These particles move from an area of high
concentration to an area of low concentration.
Diffusion
• Examples of diffusion: spraying aerosols, and
perfumes.
• High concentration (inside of the can)—the
molecules are packed tightly together….
• To a LOW concentration – when sprayed, the
molecules are released to a more free
environment
The particles SPREAD OUT

• Osmosis is the movement of water through a

selectively permeable membrane like the cell
membrane
Water moves across the cell membrane from an area of
high concentration to an area of low concentration. Types of Active Transport
• Active transport uses ENERGY (ATP)
Hypertonic Solutions: contain a high concentration of • EXOcytosis = how materials EXIT the cell (how
solute relative to another solution (e.g. the cell's the cell uses the bathroom)
cytoplasm). When a cell is placed in a hypertonic • ENDOcytosis = how materials ENTER the cell
solution, the water diffuses out of the cell, causing the (cell eating/engulfing)
cell to shrivel. • PINOcytosis= how small materials ENTER the
Hypotonic Solutions: contain a low concentration of cell (cell eating/engulfing)
solute relative to another solution (e.g. the cell's • PHAGOcytosis = how larger materials ENTER
cytoplasm). When a cell is placed in a hypotonic the cell (cell eating/engulfing)
solution, the water diffuses into the cell, causing the cell • Active Transport
to swell and possibly explode. • Active transport is the movement of molecules
Isotonic Solutions: contain the same concentration of from LOW to HIGH concentration.
solute as another solution (e.g. the cell's cytoplasm).
• Energy is required as molecules must be
When a cell is placed in an isotonic solution, the water
pumped against the concentration gradient.
diffuses into and out of the cell at the same rate. The
fluid that surrounds the body cells is isotonic. • Proteins that work as pumps are called protein
pumps.
Osmosis Concentration
• Hypertonic: the water or solution OUTSIDE of • Ex: Body cells must pump carbon dioxide out
the cell is saltier than the INSIDE of the cell. into the surrounding blood vessels to be carried
• Hyper = “more” ore “above” to the lungs for exhale. Blood vessels are high in
• This will cause it to shrivel, and shrink carbon dioxide compared to the cells, so energy
• Ex. Pouring salt on a slug will cause it to shrink is required to move the carbon dioxide across
• Hypotonic: the water or solution OUTSIDE of the cell membrane from LOW to HIGH
the cell concentration.
• Hypo means “less than” or “below” ANALOGY: Passive Transport vs. Active Transport
• A hypotonic solution will cause the cell to take
in water, and swell
• Isotonic: the water outside of the cell has an
EQUAL amount of salt as the water INSIDE of
the cell.
• Iso means “equal”
Will cause NO CHANGE in cell size