AEMCA Practice Exam

Which of the following are forms of bulk transport?

1. Diffusion and osmosis

2. Endocytosis and exocytosis

3. Active and passive transport

4. Cellular respiration and fermentation

The correct answer is: Endocytosis and exocytosis

Bulk transport refers to the mechanisms by which large quantities of materials are moved across a cell membrane. The correct answer highlights endocytosis and exocytosis as key processes involved in this type of transport. Endocytosis is the process whereby a cell engulfs external substances, bringing them into the cell in large amounts. This occurs through the invagination of the cell membrane, forming vesicles that transport the ingested materials into the cytoplasm. Exocytosis, on the other hand, is the process of expelling materials from the cell. In this process, vesicles containing substances fuse with the cell membrane, releasing their contents outside the cell. These processes are crucial for the transport of substances that are too large to pass through the membrane by simple diffusion or active/passive transport mechanisms. The other options provided do not refer to bulk transport specifically. Diffusion and osmosis represent passive transport mechanisms that deal with the movement of small molecules and water across cell membranes rather than bulk quantities. Active and passive transport describe broader categories of movement across membranes but do not inherently include the large-scale movement of materials covered by endocytosis and exocytosis. Cellular respiration and fermentation relate to metabolic processes that provide energy to the cell rather than transporting materials across membranes.