Plasma Membrane

• Biological membrane (outer membrane )of a cell.

• Surrounds the cytoplasm and other constituents of the
cell.
• Composed of two layers of phospholipids and embedded
with proteins.
• Thin semi permeable (selectively permeable) ,controls
the flow of nutrients.
• Facilitate the transport of materials needed for survival.
• It also maintains the cell potential.
• Thus it works as a selective filter that allows only certain
things to come inside or go outside the cell.
 Molecular organization
• Composed of two layers of protein
molecules and two layers of lipid
molecules.
• The lipid components contribute structural
stability and create the semi-permeable
environment.
• Proteins are responsible for the transport
of molecules into and out of the cell.
Lipid Bilayer
•The three major types of lipids  are phospholipids,
glycolipids, and cholesterol molecules.
•Phospholipids are amphipathic molecules and they
contain a polar hydrophilic (water-loving) head and two
hydrophobic (water-fearing) tails.
•Two single layers of phospholipid aligned head with head
and tail with tail.
•Tails of one monolayer touch those of the other, and the
heads project outward away from the tails.
•The polar hydrophilic "heads" of the phospholipids project
into the aqueous environment, and the hydrophobic
regions or "tails" are oriented away from water.
CARBOHYDRATE
•  They are linked to lipids (to form glycolipids)
• Linked to proteins (glycoproteins) on the
outside of the cell membrane.
• They are important in recognizing specific
molecules or other cells.
• The carbohydrate unit of some glycolipids
changes when a cell becomes cancerous,
this may allow white blood cells to target
cancer cells for destruction.
Proteins
•Cell membranes contain two types of proteins:
•Extrinsic or peripheral proteins - adhere to the
membrane.
•Intrinsic proteins or integral membrane proteins - 
reside within the membrane.
•The relative number of proteins and lipids
depends on the specialized function of the cell.
• For example, myelin, which encloses some
nerve cells, uses lipids as an insulator, and so
contains only one protein per 70 lipids.
The fluid-mosaic model

•In 1972, S.J. Singer and G. L. Nicholson

developed the membrane structure, known
as the fluid mosaic model.
•The cell membrane described as a two-
dimensional fluid of freely diffusing lipids,
embedded with proteins.
•Proteins are free to diffuse laterally in the
lipid but not to rotate from one side of the
membrane to another.
 Functions

• It separates the contents of the cell from its outside

environment and it regulates what enters and exits
the cell.
• It helps in maintaining the shape of the cell.
• Membrane transport
• The regulation of transport is not its only role. Cell
membranes assist in the organization of individual
cells to form tissues.
• Permeability
• Plasma membrane allows the movement of small
ions and molecules of various substances through it.
• According to permeability
• Impermeable P.M. – it allows nothing to pass through it.eg
unfertilized egg of certain fishes
• Semi-permeable P.M. – It allows only water to pass through it.
• Selective permeable P.M. – It allows selected ions and small
molecules to pass through it.
• Osmosis
• The two major mechanisms : passive transport and active
transport 
• Endocytosis (cells absorb molecules by engulfing them.)
• Ingestion of fluid material - pinocytosis and
• ingestion of solid material - phagocytosis.
• Exocytosis - remove undigested residues of substances
brought in by endocytosis.