Active transport can remove glucose from the blood much more effectively than passive diffusion. If passive diffusion were the mechanism, it would rely on differences in tonicity between the inside of the cell and the blood plasma. read more
The cells along your small intestine absorb glucose along with other nutrients from the food you eat. A glucose molecule is too large to pass through a cell membrane via simple diffusion. Instead, cells assist glucose diffusion through facilitated diffusion and two types of active transport. read more
Active transport is the movement of ions or molecules going against the concentration gradient. Facilitated diffusion There are over 10 different types of glucose transporters; however, the most significant for study are GLUT1-4. read more