Physiology · General Physiology

Cell membrane transport and physiological significance

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Definition

  • Passage of substances through the cell membrane occurs by three processes: diffusion, passage through channels or carrier proteins, and endocytosis or exocytosis.

Classification of Transport Processes

Classification of membrane transport processes

Class

A. Passive transport

Types
Simple diffusion, facilitated diffusion, osmosis, filtration, bulk flow, solvent drag

B. Active transport

Types
Primary active transport, secondary active transport

C. Vesicular transport

Types
Exocytosis, endocytosis

D. Transport across epithelia

Types
Transcellular transport, paracellular transport

Differences between active and passive transport