Passive Transport
Passive Transport
the external environment. Therefore, the movement of soluble substances can occur in several mechanisms:
not selective: lipid-soluble molecules, gases and water. not control by cell. movement of the molecules from a region of higher concentration to a region of lower concentration. Factors affecting the rate of diffusion are temperature, size of molecules/ions, diffusion gradient, surface area and diffusion medium. example: diffusion of oxygen and carbon dioxide at the alveolus.
ii) Osmosis:
only water molecules. not control by cell. movement of water from a region of higher concentration to one of lower concentration and often occurs across a semipermeable membrane. strong sucrose solution = less water molecule = low water potential. weak sucrose solution = more water molecule = high water potential. example: absorption of water by root hairs.
very specific: glucose, nucleic aicds, amino acids, protein and mineral ions. control by cell. transport of molecules (only certain molecules) across the outer membrane of living cell by a process of carrier protein (hydrophilic group) / channel protein (Ions: Na+, Ca2+, K+) within the cell membrane.
normally take place from a region with higher concentration of molecules to a region of lower concentration. example: absorption of digested food in the villus.
very specific: minerals ions and amino acids. control by cell. This process needs carrier proteins and energy (due to against concentration gradient) from a region of lower concentration to a region of higher concentration). Cell must expend energy that derived from ATP (adenosine triphosphate) example: human nerve cells (sodium ions are constantly transport out of the cell) / ions intake by root hairs of a plant.