Health Sciences 2300A/B Chapter Notes - Chapter 2: Lipid Bilayer, Cell Membrane, Glycocalyx

• School: Western University
• Department: Health Sciences
• Course: Health Sciences 2300A/B
• Professor: Christopher William James Melling

Document Summary

2. 2 the plasma membrane: flexible yet sturdy barrier that surrounds and contains the cytoplasm of a cell, the lipids act as a barrier to the passage of various substances into and out of the cell, Its structure is described using the fluid mosaic model while some of the proteins in the plasma membrane act as gatekeepers, regulating the travels of other molecules and ions (charged particles) between the cell"s external and internal environments. Transport across the plasma membrane: fluid within cell is called intracellular fluid (icf, fluid outside body cells, called extracellular fluid (ecf) is found in several locations: (1) It is in constant motion throughout the body through lymphatic vessels (accessory drainage vessels), and moves into and out of the spaces between the tissue cells and capillaries of these two categories of vessels. In passive processes, a substance moves down its concentration gradient or electrical gradient to cross he membrane using only its own kinetic energy: no energy input.