Facilitated Diffusion
Glucose molecules cross the plasma membrane on the apical side of epithelial cells through facilitated diffusion using glucose transporters such as GLUT1 and GLUT2. These transporter proteins help the glucose molecules move down their concentration gradient into the cell.
Proteins, Carbohydrates, and Cholesterol. (Check out, 'fluid mosaic')
Oxygen is a small, nonpolar molecule that can cross the plasma membrane via simple diffusion. Sodium ions, on the other hand, are charged and larger molecules that cannot easily pass through the hydrophobic interior of the plasma membrane. Sodium must rely on specific transport proteins like ion channels or pumps to cross the membrane.
Large molecules such as proteins, polysaccharides, and nucleic acids are generally unable to pass through the plasma membrane without assistance from transport proteins or other mechanisms. The size and charge of these molecules prevent them from diffusing across the membrane's hydrophobic interior.
The size, charge, and hydrophobicity of a molecule determine its ability to cross the plasma membrane. Small, nonpolar, and uncharged molecules can typically pass through the membrane via simple diffusion, while larger, charged, or hydrophilic molecules may require transport proteins or channels to facilitate their movement.
Polar molecules are effectively charged molecules. It's hard for them to cross the cell membrane because the membrane is comprised of an uncharged phospholipid bilayer. Charged molecules tend to have specific protein channels that allow them to cross the membrane.
Things like oxygen, CO2 and lipids cross the membrane with simple diffusion. Water can cross the membrane with osmosis when the water moves through a channel protein in the plasma membrane. Glucose, potassium, sodium etc. moves through a carrier protein in the membrane with the process of active movement. In the process of active movement energy is needed and it is given by the glucose or ATP from the cell.
In endocytosis, transported substances are enclosed in vesicles formed from the plasma membrane, which do physically cross the plasma membrane. These vesicles then transport the substances into the cell.
Large or polar molecules, such as glucose or ions, typically require assistance to cross the cell membrane. This assistance can come in the form of transport proteins like channel proteins or carrier proteins that facilitate the movement of these molecules across the membrane.
Yes, small hydrophobic molecules can cross the cell membrane.
Diffusion. This is the passive movement of molecules from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration, without the need for energy input.
Yes, nonpolar molecules can cross the cell membrane through simple diffusion.