Plasma Membrane Vocabulary

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Cell Membrane

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Also called the plasma membrane, is found in all cells and separates the interior of the cell from the outside environment.

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Semipermeability

Back

The barrier allows some molecules to pass through but not others.

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Fluid Mosaic Model

Back

Describes the structure of the plasma membrane as a mosaic of components —including phospholipids, cholesterol, proteins, and carbohydrates—that gives the membrane a fluid character.

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Cell Theory

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A general statement in biology that all living things consist of cells each of which has come from a previously existing cell.

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Phospholipid and Phospholipid Bilayer

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Biological membranes usually involve two layers of phospholipids with their tails pointing inward, an arrangement called a phospholipid bilayer.

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Cholesterol

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Situates itself in between the phospholipids to help stabilize the membrane; plays an important role in regulating membrane fluidity during changes in temperature.

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Proteins (Peripheral and Integral)

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Integral proteins are permanently embedded within the cell membrane, whereas peripheral membrane proteins are attached to the surface of the membrane at different times.

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Glycoproteins and Glycolipids

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The difference between glycolipid and glycoprotein is that glycolipid is a carbohydrate-attached lipid whereas a glycoprotein is a carbohydrate-attached protein.

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Amphiphilic

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A molecule having both hydrophobic (nonpolar) and hydrophilic (polar) regions.

Tags

CCSS.RI.11-12.4

CCSS.RI.7.4

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

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Hydrophilic 

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one that is able to interact with water

Tags

CCSS.L.3.4C

CCSS.RF.3.3A

CCSS.RF.3.3B

CCSS.RF.4.3A

CCSS.RF.5.3A