What is passive transport?
Passive transport is the movement of substances across the cell membrane without the use of energy by the cell.
During passive transport, substances move down their concentration gradient, hence no energy is required.
Passive transports can happen through three different channels, namely
- lipid bilayer
- pore protein
- carrier protein
What is diffusion?
Diffusion is the movement of particles from a high density region to a low density region. No energy is needed and no membrane involves in diffusion.
The Dynamic Equilibrium
Diffusion will continue until the concentration in all region is the same. When this happen, we say it has reached the dynamic equilibrium.
Factors Affecting the Rate of Diffusion (How fast diffusion happens)
Particles that Move Through the Plasma Membrane Through Diffusion
- Substances soluble in fat: fatty acid, glycerol, some vitamins (A,D,E,K)
- Neutral particles: water, oxygen, carbon dioxide,
Example of Diffusion
Between alveoli and blood capillaries in the lung during gases exchange.
