Cytomembrane (Noun)
Meaning
A thin membrane (a double layer of lipids) enclosing the cytoplasm of a cell; proteins in the membrane control passage of ions (like sodium or potassium or calcium) in and out of the cell; "all cells have a cell membrane".
Classification
Nouns denoting body parts.
Examples
- The cell membrane, also known as the cytomembrane, regulates what enters and leaves the cell.
- In eukaryotic cells, the cytomembrane is a semi-permeable membrane structure that controls the movement of substances.
- A cytomembrane consists of a phospholipid bilayer, which provides a stable environment for the cell's metabolic processes.
- The proteins embedded in the cytomembrane can act as receptors or channels to transport specific ions or molecules across the membrane.
- Prokaryotic cells, such as bacteria, typically have a single cytomembrane that separates their interior from the external environment.