Question

Question: A human pancreatic cell obtains O₂- add necessary molecules such as glucose, amino acids, and cholesterol- from its environment, and it releases CO₂ as a waste product. In response to hormonal signals, the cell secretes digestive enzymes. It also regulates its ion concentrations by exchange with its environment. Based on what you have just learned about the structure and function of cellular membranes, write a short essay (100-150 words) to describe how such a cell accomplishes these interactions with its environment.

Short answer

The exchange of substances across the pancreatic cells takes place via the cell membrane present in the pancreatic cell. The cell membrane acts as a communication link between the internal cell environment and the outer cell environment.

The interaction mechanism behind the movement of substances across the cell membrane is active and passive transports.

Step-by-step solution

Structural arrangement of the cell membrane

The inner cell structures separate from the outer cell environment due to a layer called the cell membrane or plasma membrane. It is a semipermeable component made of a lipid bilayer.

The lipid bilayer consists of phospholipids, cholesterol components, and integral membrane proteins. The phospholipid molecule consists of hydrophobic and hydrophilic parts.

Function of plasma membrane 

The cell membrane protects the underlying cell structures and removes the waste products produced from the cell metabolism. It receives and responds to the signal from the outer body environment.

Interaction of cell membrane with its environment

The pancreatic cells work to exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide for carrying out their metabolism. It also performs other functions such as hormonal exchanges, regulation of ionic concentration with the outer environment.

The mechanism behind the interaction of the pancreatic cell and its outer environment is the transport processes across a cell membrane.

It takes place via two routes: active and passive transport against the concentration gradient and in the course of the concentration gradient.

Processes involved in passive transport

Passive transport has different mechanisms, such as simple diffusion, osmosis, and facilitated diffusion. The process that involves the transfer of a substance from a high concentration to a lower concentration is known as simple diffusion.

Facilitated diffusion is the diffusion process that takes place via the transport of protein. Osmosis is the process that occurs via the semipermeable membrane from lower solute concentration to the region of higher solute concentration.

Processes involved in active transport

The mechanisms in active transport are primary active transport and secondary active transport. The primary active transport takes place with ATP as an energy source. Secondary active transport uses the electrochemical gradient as an energy source.

Hence, the transport mechanisms across the cell membrane structure are responsible for the interaction of pancreatic cells with their environment.