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Cell Transport
Cell Transport
Cell Transport
• The plasma membrane (also known as the cell membrane or cytoplasmic membrane) is
a biological membrane that separates a cell's interior from its surrounding environment.
The plasma membrane's primary function is to protect the cell from its surroundings.
The plasma membrane, which is made up of a phospholipid bilayer with embedded
proteins, is selectively permeable to ions and organic molecules and regulates the
movement of substances in and out of cells. Plasma membranes must be extremely
flexible in order for cells like red blood cells and white blood cells to change shape as
they pass through narrow capillaries.
• The fluid mosaic model describes the plasma membrane's framework as a mosaic of
components, including phospholipids, cholesterol, proteins, and carbohydrates, that
give the membrane its fluid character. The thickness of plasma membranes varies from
5 to 10 nm. In comparison, human red blood cells are approximately 8 m wide, or 1,000
times wider than a plasma membrane when viewed under a light microscope.
2. What are the different components of the cell Membrane? Enumerate and describe their
functions.