All cells take in nutrients and release

waste for survival. The plasma membrane

surrounds the cell and its job is to control
what molecules enter and exit the cell.
The plasma is made up of four parts.
Phospholipid bilayer, proteins, cholesterol
and carbohydrates.

The image above is a phospholipid bilayer.

Bulk transport moves large molecules in large
It is made up of hydrophilic heads (water
quantities across the bilayer. Energy is required for
loving) and hydrophobic tails (water
bulk transport. There are two different types of
fearing). The hydrophobic tails are
bulk transport: Exocytosis and Endocytosis.
arranged so they are on the inside of the
Exocytosis is when large molecules exit the cell.
bilayer and the hydrophilic heads are on
Endocytosis is when large molecules enter the cell.
the outsides of the layer being exposed to
Endocytosis has two subtypes: phagocytosis (“cell
water.
eating”) and pinocytosis (“cell drinking”).

Proteins are embedded throughout the

bilayer. The carbohydrate chains attached
to proteins allow cells to communicate
with other cells. Cholesterol is also found
in the membrane and it provides strength
and fluidity.
Passive transport moves molecules from
high concentration to low concentration
until it reaches equilibrium. In passive
transport, no energy is required. Simple
diffusion, facilitated diffusion and osmosis
are all apart of passive transport.
The picture above is an example of simple
diffusion. The hydrophobic molecules are
moving from high concentration to low
concentration through the phospholipid
bilayer. No energy or assistance is required.
The picture above depicts how facilitated
diffusion works. The hydrophilic molecules make
their way from high concentration to low
concentration through the transport protein. No
energy required, the molecules travel through the
phospholipid bilayer with the help of the
transport protein.
Active transport is the opposite of passive transport.
It moves molecules from low concentration to high
concentration until it reaches disequilibrium. Active
transport requires energy to move the molecules
through the phospholipid bilayer.
The image above shows how osmosis works. Water
molecules make their way from the outside of the
cell to the inside of the cell through an aquaporin. No
energy required, only the assistance of the
aquaporin.
Of all the types of transport Osmosis is particularly
important because it allows water to cross the
membrane. Depending of the solution the cells are in
it could cause the cell to expand or shrink. An isotonic
solution is when there is an equal amount of water
molecules on the inside and outside of the cell. The
cell is healthy and can maintain its shape. Hypertonic
solution is when there are more water molecules on
the inside of the cell, causing water to leave the cell.
As a result, the cell shrinks and shrivels up. Hypotonic
solution is when there are less water molecules
within the cell, causing water to enter the cell. This
results in the cell undergoing expansion, sometimes
causing the cell to burst.