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Channel Mediated Diffusion Essay

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Diffusion is categorized as passive transport in which atoms or molecules are moved, often through a cell membrane, from a higher to a lower concentration. This process involves the spreading of the solute, which ultimately results in the removal of a concentration gradient (Kate T. et al. 2015). Typically, there are two types of diffusion across a cell membrane: simple or channel-mediated. Simple diffusion occurs when molecules diffuse easily through the membrane; whereas channel-mediated diffusion occurs when molecules pass through the membrane via protein channels—often due to their size or electrical force. There are several factors which can affect the rate and capability of diffusion such as molecule and gradient size, temperature and electrical forces. For example, more extreme temperatures result in a slower rate of diffusion. Thus diffusion at room temperature occurs at a much more rapid rate than would diffusion at an extremely low temperature. Typically, the higher the temperature, the more rapid the rate of …show more content…

Dehydration results from a lack of water in the body. This can occur if one is in an environment with a high amount of solute in the air or water, which leads to osmotic flow of water into that environment and therefore out of the body’s cells. Kidney dialysis is used as an alternative to normal kidney function when the kidneys stop working properly due to kidney disease (Cloe 2015). The dialysis uses a semi-permeable membrane in which only small molecules can pass through. Dialysis “place[s] a semi-permeable membrane between the blood and…dialysis solution” (Cloe 2015). Diffusion and osmotic movement cause the “metabolites to flow out of the blood [and into] the dialysis solution” (Cloe 2015). This newly functioning kidney alternative relies on diffusion and osmosis and is very important in regards to medicine and

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