Plasma Membrane Structure and Function

Vocabulary flashcards covering the key components, structures, and functions of the cell membrane based on the lecture text.

Plasma membrane

Also known as the cell membrane, a vital structure in all living cells composed of a semipermeable lipid bilayer that regulates the transportation of materials and movement of substances in and out of the cell.

Phospholipid

The predominant lipid in the cell membrane, featuring hydrophilic (water-attracting) heads and hydrophobic (water-repelling) tails that form the fundamental bilayer structure of the membrane.

Cholesterol

The second most abundant lipid in the plasma membrane, interspersed within the phospholipid bilayer to contribute to membrane fluidity and stability.

Fluid mosaic model

A model suggesting that the plasma membrane is a dynamic structure with components—primarily phospholipids, cholesterol, and proteins—that move freely and fluidly in the plane of the membrane.

Integral proteins

Membrane proteins that extend into the lipid bilayer and play crucial roles in various functions, including transport, signaling, and structural support.

Channel proteins

Integral membrane proteins that form pores in the membrane, allowing specific molecules or ions to pass through by facilitated diffusion.

Hydrophilic

Water-attracting; characteristic of the head portion of a phospholipid molecule.

Hydrophobic

Water-repelling; characteristic of the tail portion of a phospholipid molecule.