Kaplan Nursing Entrance Exam Practice 2026 – Comprehensive Prep

The most inclusive transport mechanism is diffusion. This process involves the movement of molecules from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration, resulting in the even distribution of substances throughout the environment. Diffusion is important because it does not require energy and can occur with various types of molecules, including gases and small solutes, making it applicable to a wide range of biological contexts.

In contrast, osmosis specifically refers to the movement of water across a semi-permeable membrane, which narrows the focus of the transport mechanism. While facilitated transport is noteworthy for its ability to help larger or polar molecules cross cell membranes with the assistance of carrier proteins, it is still limited to specific substrates. Active transport differs significantly as it requires energy to move substances against their concentration gradient, thus making it less inclusive as it is specific to certain ions and molecules requiring energy input.

Thus, diffusion stands out as the most inclusive transport mechanism due to its broad applicability and fundamental nature in various biological processes.