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The main component of the cell membrane is phospholipids. These are molecules with a polar (hydrophilic, water-loving) head composed of a phosphate (and usually a choline) and a non-polar (hydrophobic, water-hating) tail composed of fatty acids.
In the cell membrane, these phospholipids are arranged in a bilayer - with heads facing the outside and the tails facing each other in the centre of the membrane.
Wiki User
∙ 11y ago
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoPhospholipids, carbohydrates, proteins and, most importantly, just-plain-lipids. For more details refer to the fluid mosaic model of the Cell's plasma membrane.
Wiki User
∙ 12y agophospholipids
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What regulates which substances enter and leave a cell?
The plasma membrane. Carrier proteins and ion channels are parts of the plasma membrane, and aid in diffusion across concentration gradients, as most things don't freely move from one end of the cell membrane to the other. The Sodium-Potassium pump is a major ion channel in the plasma membrane, and regulates the intake of potassium and export of sodium (3 molecules sodium out, 2 molecules potassium in.)
What componenet of the plasma membrane forms most of the cell's outer boundary?
The human cell has three principal parts which are the plasma membrane, cytoplasm, and the nucleus. The outer boundary is the plasma membrane.
Where in the cell are prokaryotic cells found?
Plasma Membrane are the phospholipids most likely found in a prokaryotic cell.
What allows all molecules to pass through cell membrane?
Transport proteins allow charged molecules to pass through the cell membrane. The process of facilitated diffusion, a type of passive transport, allows transport proteins to take charges molecules into the cell.
What prevents charged molecules from diffusing across the cell membrane?
This depends on the membrane. For example, the plasma membrane of a eukaryotic cell allows many ions to passively diffuse. However, the prevention of ions across a membrane indicates that the membrane in question is most likely non-polar, meaning that they are hydrophobic. Non-polar molecules do not like to mix with polar molecules like ions, therefore they repel one another and active diffusion must be used to transport ions across a non-polar membrane.
Do the hydrophobic tails of plasma membrane promote osmosis?
No.Hydrophobic tails avoid water and line up in the center of the membrane and makes the plasma membrane impermeable to most water-soluble molecules.
What are most of the molecules that compose the plasma membrane?
phospholipids
What makes up most of the plasma membrane?
Phospholipid(:
What substance is most likely to passively diffuse across the plasma membrane by dissolving in the membrane?
Lipid-soluble molecules such as O2 and CO2 diffuse freely through the plasma membrane.
What molecules would be most likely to pass through the lipid bilyer of a plasma membrane?
ions and polar molecules
Does the plasma membrane of a living cell form an impenetrable barrier between the internal millieu and the environment?
No, the plasma membrane is a selectively permeable barrier that regulates the flow of most molecules across the membrane. The plasma membrane allows waste products to exit the cell and nutrients to enter the cell.
Why do most substances have to be assisted through the plasma membrane?
The plasma membrane is made from tightlypack phospholipids. The plasma membrane prevents polar molecules and large molecules from diffusing freely. Fatty (lipophilic) molecules can easily pass through. since cells often need water soluble materials such as water and sugars, transporters and pores need to be made out of proteins to let those molecules through. One of the most important pumps is the Na+/K+ ATPase pump which maintains gradients of sodium and potassium across the cell membrane
What regulates which substances enter and leave a cell?
The plasma membrane. Carrier proteins and ion channels are parts of the plasma membrane, and aid in diffusion across concentration gradients, as most things don't freely move from one end of the cell membrane to the other. The Sodium-Potassium pump is a major ion channel in the plasma membrane, and regulates the intake of potassium and export of sodium (3 molecules sodium out, 2 molecules potassium in.)
What is use of the plasma membrane?
plasma membrane is the outer most covering of the cell,...
What componenet of the plasma membrane forms most of the cell's outer boundary?
The human cell has three principal parts which are the plasma membrane, cytoplasm, and the nucleus. The outer boundary is the plasma membrane.
What makes up most of a cell's membrane's?
Phospholipids is what makes up cell membranes. These are molecules with a polar head composed of a phosphate.
WHAT IS THE cell most responsible for maintaining homeostasis in all cell?
The plasma membrane is the structure that is most responsible for maintaining cell homeostasis. The plasma membrane is also known as the cell membrane.
