Cell Biology: Membranes and Transport

Vocabulary terms covering cell membrane structure, transport mechanisms like osmosis and diffusion, and differences between plant and animal cells.

Cell membrane

A thin boundary that surrounds a cell and protects its contents, also referred to as the plasma membrane.

Osmosis

The movement of water through a selectively permeable membrane.

Diffusion

The movement of particles from a higher to lower concentration.

Cell membrane thickness

The cell membrane is extremely thin, measuring approximately $7$ to $10\,nanometers$ thick.

Cell wall

A structure present in plant cells but absent in animal cells.

Single-celled organism material exchange

Single-celled organisms exchange materials and respond to their environment through the cell membrane.