5.1: Introduction

OpenStax Biology 2e for Norco College · LibreTexts

0%

Contents

    Text

    Size
    100%
    Theme
    Typeface
    Line length
    Spacing

    From LibreTexts, under CC BY 4.0, as the source states it; its equations are written in TeX, which the PDF shows typeset. This page at LibreTexts.

    5.1: Introduction
    This photo shows the hustle and bustle of Grand Central Station.
    Figure 5.1 Despite its seeming hustle and bustle, Grand Central Station functions with a high level of organization: People and objects move from one location to another, they cross or are contained within certain boundaries, and they provide a constant flow as part of larger activity. Analogously, a plasma membrane’s functions involve movement within the cell and across boundaries' activities. (credit: modification of work by Randy Le’Moine)

    Chapter Outline

    5.2 Components and Structure
    5.3 Passive Transport
    5.4 Active Transport
    5.5 Bulk Transport

    The plasma membrane, the cell membrane, has many functions, but the most basic one is to define the cell's borders and keep the cell functional. The plasma membrane is selectively permeable. This means that the membrane allows some materials to freely enter or leave the cell, while other materials cannot move freely, but require a specialized structure, and occasionally, even energy investment for crossing.


    This page titled 5.1: Introduction was last modified on Tue, 15 Aug 2023 19:12:21 GMT and is shared under a CC BY 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by OpenStax via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform.