Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Surface Tension, Capillary Action, and Viscosity

Surface Tension, Capillary Action, and Viscosity

Surface Tension
The various IMFs between identical molecules of a substance are examples of cohesive forces. The molecules within a liquid are surrounded by other molecules and are attracted equally in all directions by the cohesive forces within the liquid. However, the molecules on the surface of a liquid are attracted only by about one-half as many molecules. Because of the unbalanced molecular attractions on the surface molecules, liquids contract to form a shape that minimizes the number...

Membrane Fluidity

Membrane Fluidity

Membrane fluidity is explained by the fluid mosaic model of the cell membrane, which describes the plasma membrane structure as a mosaic of components—including phospholipids, cholesterol, proteins, and carbohydrates—that gives the membrane a fluid character.
Mosaic nature of the membrane
The mosaic characteristic of the membrane helps the plasma membrane remain fluid. The integral proteins and lipids exist as separate but loosely-attached molecules in the membrane. The membrane is a relatively...

Membrane Fluidity

Membrane Fluidity

Cell membranes are composed of phospholipids, proteins, and carbohydrates loosely attached to one another through chemical interactions. Molecules are generally able to move about in the plane of the membrane, giving the membrane its flexible nature called fluidity. Two other features of the membrane contribute to membrane fluidity: the chemical structure of the phospholipids and the presence of cholesterol in the membrane.

Viscosity

Viscosity

When water is poured into a glass, it falls freely and quickly, whereas if honey or maple syrup is poured over a pancake, it flows slowly and sticks to the surface of the container. This difference in the flow of different kinds of liquids arises due to the fluid friction between the liquid layers and the liquid and the surrounding material. This property of fluids is called fluid viscosity. In this example, water has a lower viscosity than honey and maple syrup.
The SI unit of viscosity is...

Viscosity

Viscosity

Viscosity is a property of fluids that measures their resistance to flow. It is influenced by factors such as the surface area of contact, the gradient of flow speed, and the fluid's viscosity constant, called the coefficient of viscosity. The coefficient of viscosity, also known as dynamic viscosity, is denoted by the symbol η. It determines the proportionality between the viscous force and the gradient of flow speed.Newton's law of viscosity states that the viscous force on a faster-moving...

Asymmetric Lipid Bilayer

Asymmetric Lipid Bilayer

Biological membranes show uneven distribution of different types of lipids in the inner and outer layers, resulting in transverse asymmetric membranes. The treatment of the erythrocyte membrane with the enzyme phospholipase confirmed the asymmetric nature of the lipid bilayer. The enzyme hydrolyzes lipids into fatty acids and hydrophilic groups. The phospholipase acts only on the outer layer of the membrane, while the inner layer remains intact. The phospholipase treatment resulted in 80%...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Systems modelling of mitochondrial dynamics in different exercise regimes.

The Journal of physiology·2026

Same author

Synaptic spine head morphodynamics from graph grammar rules for actin dynamics.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026

Same author

A balance between nucleating and elongating actin filaments controls deformation of protein condensates.

Science advances·2026

Same author

Mitochondrial mechanics nucleates axonal jamming and swelling.

ArXiv·2026

Same author

Mitochondrial mechanics nucleates axonal jamming and swelling.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026

Same author

Connexin 43-Enriched Vesicles Improve Synchronization in hiPSC-Derived Cardiomyocytes.

Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)·2026

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 17, 2026

Fluorescence Recovery after Merging a Droplet to Measure the Two-dimensional Diffusion of a Phospholipid Monolayer

Fluorescence Recovery after Merging a Droplet to Measure the Two-dimensional Diffusion of a Phospholipid Monolayer

Published on: October 15, 2015

Interaction between surface shape and intra-surface viscous flow on lipid membranes.

Padmini Rangamani¹, Ashutosh Agrawal, Kranthi K Mandadapu

¹Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.

Biomechanics and Modeling in Mechanobiology

|October 23, 2012

Summary

We developed a theory for viscous flow within lipid bilayers by integrating surface flow and elastic resistance equations. This model simulates the interplay between flow and membrane shape, offering insights into membrane dynamics.

More Related Videos

Pulling Membrane Nanotubes from Giant Unilamellar Vesicles

Pulling Membrane Nanotubes from Giant Unilamellar Vesicles

Published on: December 7, 2017

Neutron Spin Echo Spectroscopy as a Unique Probe for Lipid Membrane Dynamics and Membrane-Protein Interactions

Neutron Spin Echo Spectroscopy as a Unique Probe for Lipid Membrane Dynamics and Membrane-Protein Interactions

Published on: May 27, 2021

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 17, 2026

Fluorescence Recovery after Merging a Droplet to Measure the Two-dimensional Diffusion of a Phospholipid Monolayer

Fluorescence Recovery after Merging a Droplet to Measure the Two-dimensional Diffusion of a Phospholipid Monolayer

Published on: October 15, 2015

Pulling Membrane Nanotubes from Giant Unilamellar Vesicles

Pulling Membrane Nanotubes from Giant Unilamellar Vesicles

Published on: December 7, 2017

Neutron Spin Echo Spectroscopy as a Unique Probe for Lipid Membrane Dynamics and Membrane-Protein Interactions

Neutron Spin Echo Spectroscopy as a Unique Probe for Lipid Membrane Dynamics and Membrane-Protein Interactions

Published on: May 27, 2021

Area of Science:

Biophysics
Materials Science
Fluid Dynamics

Background:

Lipid bilayers are fundamental biological membranes with complex mechanical properties.
Understanding flow dynamics within these bilayers is crucial for cellular processes.
Existing models may not fully capture the interplay between viscous flow and membrane elasticity.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop a comprehensive theory for intra-surface viscous flow on lipid bilayers.
To model the coupling between fluid flow and membrane deformation.
To provide a framework for simulating membrane dynamics under flow conditions.

Main Methods:

Combined equations for flow on curved surfaces with bilayer elastic resistance.
Derived the model from fundamental balance laws.
Emphasized conditions at membrane edges.
Employed numerical simulations to analyze flow-shape coupling.

Main Results:

Developed a theoretical model for intra-surface viscous flow in lipid bilayers.
Demonstrated the coupling between viscous flow and membrane shape.
Successfully simulated the dynamic interplay between flow and bilayer deformation.
Highlighted the importance of edge conditions in membrane mechanics.

Conclusions:

The developed theory provides a robust framework for studying lipid bilayer hydrodynamics.
Numerical simulations reveal critical insights into flow-induced membrane shape changes.
This model advances our understanding of lipid bilayer mechanics and dynamics.