What does selective permeability mean?
The term selective permeability is used to describe the ability of a material to allow some substances to pass through it while stopping others. When a porous material has this property, it is called a permeable membrane. It is a specialized type of membrane that allows water and small particles to pass through while keeping larger objects, such as bacteria, from passing through.
What does selective permeability mean in biology?
An example of where selective permeability is important is the blood-brain barrier (BBB). The brain is protected from unwanted substances in the rest of the body by the BBB. This is achieved by tight intercellular connections between the endothelial cells that line the brain’s blood vessels. These connections prevent foreign substances from reaching the brain. This allows the brain to function properly and avoids any damage to the brain cells.
What does selective permeability mean in health?
The permeability of the digestive tract and the absorption of nutrients is controlled by the mucosal barrier. It consists of a thin layer of cells covering the gut lining. The cells contain pores or channels that allow the passage of certain substances. The movement of ions, nutrients, digestive enzymes, and water is restricted unless the proper channels are present. A healthy functioning digestive tract has a high level of permeability, which allows food to pass through the digestive tract. If this system is not working properly, digestive
What does selective permeability mean in chemistry?
In order to understand this property, you need to understand the difference between permeability and diffusivity. In porous media, the two properties are different. Diffusivity refers to the ability of a material to travel through a particular medium, and permeability is the ability of a material to flow through the porous medium. The permeability is a measure of the flow of liquids or gases through a porous material under a particular pressure gradient.
What does selective permeability mean in physics?
A material has selective permeability when it allows some substances to pass through it more easily than others. One example of a material with high permeability is glass. Glass allows visible light to pass through it, while it blocks the passage of sound waves. Another example is oil. A porous rock has high permeability too; water, oil, gas, and small particles can pass through it as it’s naturally porous.