semipermeable membrane
Picky molecular gatekeeper
A semipermeable membrane allows some substances to pass through while blocking others, typically based on molecular size or charge.
Cell membranes are semipermeable, letting water and small molecules through while keeping larger proteins inside.
The term appears in biology, chemistry, and discussions of filtration: Reverse osmosis uses a semipermeable membrane to purify water.
- aquaporinMembrane protein for water
- diffusionPassive molecular spreading
- reverse osmosisPressure-driven membrane filtration
- osmosisSolvent crossing semipermeable barrier
- hydrophilicTending to absorb water
cell wall · nuclear envelope · osmotic pressure · endocytosis · concentration gradient · desalination · Gore-Tex · water purification · hemodialysis · kidney · equilibrium state · blood-brain barrier · tonicity · bioreactors · solute · biosensors · hydrophobic · dialysis
- cell membranesbilayer, phospholipid, phospholipids, cholesterol, aquaporin
- Osmoregulationosmoregulation, osmosis, osmotic pressure, water balance, electrolyte balance
- osmosisosmosis, osmotic pressure, semipermeable, osmometer, osmoregulation
- solutionssolution, answer, fix, remedy, cure
- Blood Therapiesblood transfusion, transfusion, plasma therapy, packed cells, apheresis
- body layersepidermis, dermis, epithelium, mucosa, fascia
semipermeable membraneopen channel
Uncovered water conveyance
gap · free flow · free passage · hole · aperture
permeable, membrane, permeate, permeation, permeated, permeating, impermeable, permeability, impermeability