The term used to describe the plasma membrane because of it's oily nature and embedded proteins is the fluid-mosaic model.
The plasma membrane that surrounds each cell has two layers of phospholipids (fat with phosphorous attached).
Each phospholipid molecule has a head that is attracted to water (hydrophilic) and a tail that repels water (hydrophobic) . Both the layers of the plasma membrane have the hydrophilic ends pointing to the outside forming the outer layer of the plasma membrane and the hydrophobic tails pointing inside and forming the inner layer of the plasma membrane.
Proteins and substances such as cholesterol become embedded in the bi-layer of the plasma membrane giving it a mosaic look.
At body temperature the plasma membrane has a liquid consistency like the vegetable oil and proteins and other substances are able to move across the plasma membrane. Due to this reason the plasma membrane is described using the term fluid-mosaic model.
fluid mosaic
The Cell Membrane
The fluid mosaic model of the cell membrane was proposed by S.J. Singer and G.L. Nicolson in 1972. The model describes the cell membrane as a dynamic structure composed of a lipid bilayer with embedded proteins that move freely within the membrane.
Peripheral proteins are loosely attached to the cell membrane and are involved in cell signaling and communication. Integral proteins are embedded within the membrane and are responsible for transporting molecules across the membrane and maintaining its structure.
Its called "the fluid mosaic model" of the cell membrane. This describes the clumping together of phospholipids to form rafts and their motion (along with single phospholipids) throughout the membrane.
fluid mosaic
fluid mosaic
The term that is used is "lipid bilayer".
fluid mosaic
fluid mosaic
fluid mosaic
fluid mosaic
The Cell Membrane
The currently accepted hypothesis of membrane structure is the fluid mosaic model. This model describes the cell membrane as a dynamic structure composed of a lipid bilayer with embedded proteins that are free to move laterally within the membrane. It emphasizes the fluidity and flexibility of the membrane.
The fluid mosaic model describes the structure of the cell membrane. It depicts the membrane as a fluid phospholipid bilayer with embedded proteins, cholesterol, and carbohydrates. This model highlights the dynamic nature of the membrane and how its components move and interact with each other.
According to the fluid mosaic model, our cell membrane is a double membrane of phospho lipid molecules. Proteins are embedded in this layer. Cholesterol is also an important compone of this membrane.
Receptor proteins are embedded in the lipid bilayer of the cell membrane.