Describe 3 functions of the cellular membrane and how are th

Describe 3 functions of the cellular membrane and how are these functions accomplished by the chemical make up of the membrane.

Solution

The main functions of the cell membrane are:to maintain the physical integrity of the cell,that is to mechanically enclose the contents of the cell,also to control the movement of particles e.g. ions or molecules,into and out of the cell.It also isolates the cytoplasm from the external environment.

The hydrophilic head and hydrophobic tails of the phospholipid molecules that form the phospholipid bilayer of the cell membrane forming its physical/mechanical structure.The ion channels responsible for the selective permeability of the cell membrane.Membrane pumps that enable active transport of specific molecules across the cell membrane.Carrier proteins and receptor proteins that transport specific substance across the cell membrane and receive (chemical) signals from outside the cell that tell the cell to take a specific action,respectively.Cholesterol molecules and carbohydrate chains that support the structure of the membrane and its attachment to other tissues,respectively.Surface protein markers that identify the cell.Membrane proteins acts as a recptor to combine with specific substance such as hormones while some form narrow passage ways or channels through which various molecules and ions can cross the cell membrane.Enzymatic proteins carry out metabolic reactions.