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The Transport of Substances across the Plasma Membrane
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The Transport of Substances across the Plasma Membrane The plasma membrane or, the cell surface membrane, is made almost entirely of protein and lipid. The plasma membrane controls the movement of substances into and out of a cell. It is partially permeable so some substances cross more easily than others. The lipids found in the membrane are known as phospholipids. Phospholipids are fat derivatives in which one fatty acid has been replaced by a phosphate group and one of several nitrogen-containing molecules. The phospholipids' structure is such that it appears to have a 'head' attached to a 'tail'. The head section of the lipid is made of a glycerol group which is then attached to an ionised phosphate group that is the tail. This gives the 'head' region of the lipid to have hydrophilic properties (water loving), where the 'tail' section has hydrophobic properties (water hating). As a result of this...
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