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  3. AP Biology - Plasma Membranes & Fluid Mosaic Model

ap biology - plasma membranes & fluid mosaic model

originally streamed in 2020 with Jessica NadzamTeacher
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Learn how plasma membranes control what enters and exits cells through selective permeability. This AP Biology review covers the fluid mosaic model, phospholipid bilayer structure, and membrane proteins—key concepts for Unit 2 exam prep. You'll expl ...more

curriculum note

The FRQ practice problem at the end of this video is acknowledged by the instructor as approximately a decade old and may reflect an outdated rubric format; check current AP Biology FRQ guidelines for the most up-to-date scoring criteria.

covered in this stream

units
Unit 2 – Cell Structure and Function
topics
2.4 Membrane Permeability2.5 Membrane Transport2.6 Facilitated Diffusion2.7 Facilitated DiffusionPlasma MembranesMembrane Permeability

timestamps

  • 0:00

    Introduction to Plasma Membranes

  • 0:30

    Phospholipids Overview

  • 1:33

    Phospholipid Structure

  • 2:36

    Lipid Non-Polarity

  • 3:37

    Phosphate Head Polarity

  • 5:14

    Amphipathic Quality

  • 6:50

    Bilayers and Micelles

  • 8:24

    Micelle Formation

  • 10:27

    Phospholipid Bilayer

  • 11:59

    Why Bilayer for Cells

  • 13:32

    Plasma Membrane Flexibility

  • 17:13

    Membrane as Barrier

  • 21:25

    Membrane Proteins

  • 23:31

    Protein Functions

  • 26:40

    Aquaporins for Water

  • 28:42

    Maintaining Homeostasis

  • 31:51

    Role of Cholesterol

  • 34:29

    Fluid Mosaic Model

  • 38:08

    Practice Question 1

  • 39:09

    Practice Question 2

  • 40:12

    Practice Question 3

  • 41:15

    Practice Question 4

  • 42:17

    FRQ Practice Prompt

  • 43:48

    FRQ Scoring

  • 45:26

    Session Wrap-Up

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Study GuidesFRQs + AI ScoringAP Essay Grader for StudentsAI Grading for TeachersPractice QuestionsGlossaryScore Calculators

Company

What's New?PricingBulk DiscountsTestimonialsFAQsEmail us

Resources

AP Exam Schedule 2027AP Exam AccommodationsAP ClassesAP ClassroomEasiest AP ClassesHardest AP ClassesAP vs IBAP vs Dual EnrollmentAP vs Honors ClassesAP Scholar Awards

history

🌎 ap world history🇺🇸 ap us history🇪🇺 ap european history

social science

✊🏿 ap african american studies🗳️ ap comparative government🚜 ap human geography💶 ap macroeconomics🤑 ap microeconomics🧠 ap psychology👩🏾‍⚖️ ap us government

english & capstone

✍🏽 ap english language📚 ap english literature🔍 ap research💬 ap seminar

arts

🎨 ap art & design🖼️ ap art history🎵 ap music theory

science

🧬 ap biology🧪 ap chemistry♻️ ap environmental science🎡 ap physics 1🧲 ap physics 2💡 ap physics c: e&m⚙️ ap physics c: mechanics

math & computer science

🧮 ap calculus ab♾️ ap calculus bc📐 ap precalculus📊 ap statistics💻 ap computer science a⌨️ ap computer science p

world languages

🇨🇳 ap chinese🇫🇷 ap french🇩🇪 ap german🇮🇹 ap italian🇯🇵 ap japanese🏛️ ap latin🇪🇸 ap spanish language💃🏽 ap spanish literature

career kickstart

💼 ap business with personal finance🔒 ap cybersecurity

go beyond AP

high school exams

✏️ PSAT🎓 Digital SAT🎒 ACT

honors classes

🍬 honors algebra II🫀 honors anatomy🐇 honors biology👩🏽‍🔬 honors chemistry💲 honors economics📐 honors geometry⚾️ honors physics📏 honors pre-calculus📊 honors statistics🗳️ honors us government🇺🇸 honors us history🌎 honors world history

college classes

👩🏽‍🎤 arts👔 business🎤 communications🏗️ engineering📓 humanities➗ math🧑🏽‍🔬 science💶 social science

hs classes

🏛️ alabama history⛰️ appalachian studies🌴 california history🌍 earth science🌐 ethnic studies🐊 florida history🍑 georgia history🌎 global studies🌺 hawaiian studies📰 journalism🪶 native american studies🌵 new mexico history🤠 oklahoma history⚗️ physical science🎙️ speech and debate🤝 texas government🤠 texas history🌲 washington state history🕊️ world religions
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© 2026 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.

AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.