NAME_____KEY________ DATE_________ PERIOD_________

Cell Membrane Coloring Worksheet

Composition of the Cell Membrane & Functions
The cell membrane is also called the ____PLASMA_____
membrane and is made of a phospholipid ____BILAYER___. The
phospholipids have a hydrophilic (water attracting) ___HEAD_ and two
hydrophobic (water repelling) __TAILS__. The head of a phospholipid
is made of an alcohol and _____P___ group, while the tails are chains
of _____FAs_____. Phospholipids can move ___FREELY___ and allow
water and other _SMALL_ molecules to pass through into or out of the
cell. This is known as simple _DIFFUSION_ because it does not
require _ENERGY_ and the water or molecules are moving ___DOWN_
the concentration gradient. SKETCH AND LABEL a phospholipid
coloring the heads red and the tails blue.
PHOSPHOLIPID

Another type of lipid in the cell membrane is _CHOLESTERAL__

that makes the membrane more fluid. Embedded in the phospholipid
bilayer are _PROTEINS_ that also aid in diffusion and in cell
recognition. Proteins called _INTEGRAL_ proteins go all the way
through the bilayer, while _PERIPHERAL_ proteins are only on one
side. Integral proteins are also called _CHANNEL_ proteins. Large
molecules like _LIPIDS_ or carbohydrates use proteins to help move
across cell membranes. Some of the membrane proteins have
carbohydrate _RECEPTORS_ attached to help cells in recognize each
other and certain molecules.
List 4 functions of the cell or plasma membrane:
1

a.
b.
c.
d.

_Cell membranes help organisms maintain homeostasis by

controlling what substances may enter or leave cells_
_exchange materials such as food, water, & wastes with
its environment_
_water, oxygen, & carbon dioxide can move in and out
freely__
_is semi-permeable or selectively permeable only allowing
certain molecules to pass through__

Correctly color code and identify the name for each part of the cell
membrane.
Letter
Name/Color
__A___ Phospholipid bilayer (no
color)
__B___ Integral protein (pink)
__AB__ Fatty acid tails
(orange)
_AD__ Phosphate heads
(yellow)

Letter
__C__
__AC__
__D__

Name/Color
Peripheral protein
(red)
Cholesterol (blue)
Glycoprotein (green)

__E__

Glycolipids (purple)

AB

AC
AD

Match the cell membrane structure or its function with the correct
letter from the cell membrane diagram.
Letter

Structure/Function

Letter

Structure/Function

__AD__ Attracts water

Helps maintain
__AC_

__AB__ Repels water

Make up the bilayer
__A_

__C_

__B__

flexibility of membrane
Involved in cell-to-cell
recognition

Help transport certain

materials across the cell
membrane

Osmosis and Tonicity

Define osmosis. _MOVEMENT OF WATER DOWN CONCENTRATION
GRADIENT_
In which direction does water move across membranes, up or down the
concentration gradient? _____DOWN______
Define these 3 terms:
a. isotonic___CELL IS EQUILIBRIUM___
3

b. hypertonic

c. hypotonic

__CELL IS IN SOLUTION THAT HAS A LOWER

CONC OF WATER, CAUSING CELL TO
SHRINK_______
_CELL IS IN SOLUTION THAT HAS A HIGHER
CONC OF WATER, CAUSING THE CELL TO
SWELL_

Use arrows to show the direction of water movement into or out

of each cell. Color and label the cell in an isotonic environment light
blue, the hypotonic environment yellow, and the hypertonic environment
light green.

HYPERTONIC

ISOTONIC

HYPOTONIC

Match the description or picture with the osmotic condition:

A. Isotonic

___C__ solution with a lower solute concentration

B. Hypertonic

___C__ condition plant cells require

C. Hypotonic

___C__ red blood cell bursts (cytolysis)

___A__ solution in which the solute concentration is the same

___A__ condition that animal cells require
___B__ plant cell loses turgor pressure (Plasmolysis)
___B__ solution with a higher solute concentration
___C__ plant cell with good turgor pressure
___C__ solution with a high water concentration

Label the tonicity for each solution (isotonic, hypotonic, or

hypertonic):

_____HYPO_____

____ISO____

__HYPER____

__HYPO____
__HYPO____
__HYPER____
Transport Requiring Energy
What type of transport is represented by the following picture?
___ACTIVE________
What energy is being used? __ATP_______
In which direction (concentration gradient), is the movement
occurring? ____AGAINST(UP)______
Color the internal environment of the cell yellow. Color and Label the
transport proteins red and the substance being moved blue.

One type of active transport is called the __Na/K__ pump which helps
muscle cells contract. This pump uses __ENERGY__ to move ions
_UP__ the concentration gradient. The protein that is used to pump
the ions through is called a __CARRIER__ protein and it changes its
__SHAPE___ to move the ions across the cell membrane. Label and
color the carrier proteins red and the ions green.