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The outer layer of the cell is the cell membrane. This membrane is made up of phospholipids which themselves are made of a polar phosphate head and a non-polar fatty acid tail. The polar heads face the exterior and interior of the cell while the fatty acid tails comprise the interior of the membrane that is created by this arrangement. The membrane acts like a "gatekeeper" for 2 reasons:

1) water and ions can diffuse freely across the membrane while larger molecules cannot

2) a vast variety of proteins are embedded in the membrane and they allow certain ions and even larger molecules to flow to the interior of the cell.

This "gatekeeper" function is important for maintaining the cells internal activities.

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