Transport Process

Running head: TRANSPORT PROCESS
Transport Process
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1TRANSPORT PROCESS
Diffusion
The process of diffusion is a spontaneous movement of molecules from a region of its
higher concentration to a region of its lower concentration. Diffusion takes place in gaseous
state or in liquid state (Angius et al. 2015). The diffusion of waste products (carbon dioxide)
during respiration is an example.
Osmosis
The process of osmosis involves spontaneous movement of water molecules across a
semipermeable membrane from a region of low concentration of solute to a region of higher
concentration of solute across the semipermeable membrane. The osmosis movement occurs
until an equilibrium in concentration gradients is reached on either side of the semi permeable
membrane (Kramer and Myers 2013). The phenomenon of osmosis involves only water
molecules and no other solutes in movement; osmosis influences nutrient distribution and
release of waste products in animals. The intake of soil water by plant roots is an example of
osmosis.
Active transport
Active transport involves the transport of the cellular metabolites and ions across cell
membrane against the concentration gradient, which means from a lower concentration to
higher concentration. This requires an input of energy to drive the transport process, usually
ATP is the energy source. This is called primary active transport (Kotyk and Horak 2018).
Another kind of active transport which requires energy from electrochemical gradient is
known as secondary active transport, which involves channel proteins to promote the
transport process. The outflow of sodium ions and influx of potassium ions are coupled
together through primary active transport phenomenon, which occurs through sodium-