Plasma membrane
Plasma Membrane
The Plasma Membrane (pronunciation: /ˈplazmə ˈmembrān/), also known as the cell membrane, is a biological membrane that separates the interior of all cells from the outside environment. The plasma membrane is selectively permeable to ions and organic molecules and controls the movement of substances in and out of cells.
Etymology
The term "plasma" was first used in biology by German anatomist Rudolf Virchow in 1845 to describe the substance of a cell. The term "membrane" comes from the Latin "membrana", meaning "skin" or "parchment".
Structure
The plasma membrane consists of a lipid bilayer, including cholesterol that resides between phospholipids to maintain their fluidity at various temperatures. The membrane also contains membrane proteins, including integral proteins that go across the membrane and peripheral proteins that loosely attach to the inner or outer surface of the membrane.
Function
The primary function of the plasma membrane is to protect the cell from its surroundings. It consists of the phospholipid bilayer with embedded proteins. The plasma membrane controls the movement of substances in and out of cells and organelles. In this way, it is selectively permeable to ions and organic molecules.
Related Terms
- Cell: The basic structural, functional, and biological unit of all known organisms.
- Phospholipid: A class of lipids that are a major component of all cell membranes.
- Cholesterol: A type of lipid molecule and is biosynthesized by all animal cells.
- Membrane protein: A protein molecule that is attached to, or associated with the membrane of a cell or an organelle.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Plasma membrane
- Wikipedia's article - Plasma membrane
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