You are made up of trillions and trillions of cells, and each one is separated

from its surroundings by a cell membrane. Learn about the structure and
functions of the cell membrane in this lesson.

The Cell Membrane is a Fluid Mosaic

A cell is the basic unit of life, and all organisms are made up of one or
many cells. One of the things that all cells have in common is a cell
membrane. It is a barrier that separates a cell from its surrounding
environment. This outer boundary of the cell is also called the plasma
membrane. It is composed of four different types of molecules:
1. Phospholipids
2. Cholesterol
3. Proteins
4. Carbohydrates
The fluid mosaic model describes the structure of a cell membrane. It
indicates that the cell membrane is not solid. It is flexible and has a similar
consistency to vegetable oil, so all the individual molecules are just
floating in a fluid medium, and they are all capable of moving sideways
within the cell membrane. Mosaic refers to something that contains many
different parts. The plasma membrane is a mosaic of phospholipids,
cholesterol molecules, proteins and carbohydrates.

Phospholipids

Phospholipids make up the basic structure of a cell membrane. A single

phospholipid molecule has two different ends: a head and a tail. The head
end contains a phosphate group and is hydrophilic. This means that it
likes or is attracted to water molecules.
The tail end is made up of two strings of hydrogen and carbon atoms
called fatty acid chains. These chains are hydrophobic, or do not like to
mingle with water molecules. This is just like what happens when you pour
vegetable oil in water. The vegetable oil will not mix with the water.
The phospholipids of a cell membrane are arranged in a double layer
called the lipid bilayer. The hydrophilic phosphate heads are always
arranged so that they are near water. Watery fluids are found both inside a
cell (intracellular fluid) and outside a cell (extracellular fluid). The
hydrophobic tails of membrane phospholipids are organized in a manner
that keeps them away from water.

This arrangement of phospholipid molecules makes up the lipid bilayer.

Cholesterol, Proteins and Carbohydrates

When you hear the word cholesterol, the first thing you probably think of is
that it is bad. However, cholesterol is actually a very important component
of cell membranes. Cholesterol molecules are made up of four rings of
hydrogen and carbon atoms. They are hydrophobic and are found among
the hydrophobic tails in the lipid bilayer.
Cholesterol molecules are important for maintaining the consistency of the
cell membrane. They strengthen the membrane by preventing some small
molecules from crossing it. Cholesterol molecules also keep the
phospholipid tails from coming into contact and solidifying. This ensures
that the cell membrane stays fluid and flexible.
Some plasma membrane proteins are located in the lipid bilayer and are
called integral proteins. Other proteins, called peripheral proteins, are
outside of the lipid bilayer. Peripheral proteins can be found on either side
of the lipid bilayer: inside the cell or outside the cell. Membrane proteins
can function as enzymes to speed up chemical reactions, act as receptors
for specific molecules, or transport materials across the cell membrane.
Carbohydrates, or sugars, are sometimes found attached to proteins or
lipids on the outside of a cell membrane. That is, they are only found on
the extracellular side of a cell membrane. Together, these carbohydrates
form the glycocalyx.
The glycocalyx of a cell has many functions. It provides cushioning and
protection for the plasma membrane, and it is also important in cell
recognition. Based on the structure and types of carbohydrates in the
glycocalyx, your body can recognize cells and determine if they should be
there or not. The glycocalyx can also act as a glue to attach cells together.

This is the fluid mosaic model of a cell membrane

Cell Membrane Functions

The plasma membrane of a cell has two main roles:

1. It is a physical barrier.
2. It regulates exchange of materials with its surroundings.
The cell membrane is important because it separates and protects a cell
from its surroundings. This allows the intracellular conditions of a cell to be
very different from the extracellular conditions. For example, nerve cells in
your body will maintain a high concentration of potassium inside. Outside,
in the extracellular fluid, there is very little potassium and lots of sodium.
These concentration differences are absolutely necessary for the function
of nerve cells, which is to send signals or nerve impulses.
A cell membrane's structure and properties, like having hydrophilic outer
areas and hydrophobic inner regions, prevents many substances from
entering or leaving a cell. This is good because it means that unwanted
materials don't accidentally get inside a cell. However, many materials,
like the nutrient glucose, do need to cross the cell membrane. Also, waste
substances need to get out of a cell. If they did not, the wastes would
build up and become toxic to the cell.
The cell membrane is able to regulate what comes in and what goes out of
a cell. This is called selective permeability. Only very small molecules,
such as water, oxygen or carbon dioxide, can easily pass through the lipid
bilayer of a cell membrane. Any other substances that must cross the cell
membrane must pass through the transport proteins. These proteins are
very specific about what they transport. For example, your cell
membranes have transporters that will only allow for the movement of
glucose molecules. There are others with different structures that only
transport sodium.

The selective permeability of a cell membrane: Some molecules can pass

through the phospholipid layer. Those that cannot, must have their own
transport proteins.

Lesson Summary

The cell membrane, or plasma membrane, surrounds and protects the

internal environment of a cell; however, this is not its only function. A cell
membrane also determines what materials enter or leave the cell. This
ensures that the cells will be able to get rid of wastes and take up
important nutrients and gases.
The plasma membrane is a fluid mosaic. This means that it is flexible and
made up of many different types of molecules. Phospholipids form the
basic structure of a cell membrane, called the lipid bilayer. Scattered in
the lipid bilayer are cholesterol molecules, which help to keep the
membrane fluid consistent. Membrane proteins are important for
transporting substances across the cell membrane. They can also function
as enzymes or receptors. On the extracellular fluid side of a cell
membrane, you find carbohydrates. They help a cell to be recognized as
a certain type of cell and are important for holding cells together.