cell membrane

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Detailed diagram of a plasma membrane's lipid bilayer showing two layers of phospholipid molecules with hydrophilic heads facing outward and hydrophobic tails inward, embedded cholesterol, integral (intrinsic) proteins spanning the membrane, peripheral (extrinsic) proteins attached to the surface, and sugar side chains extending from the outer face.

The video thumbnail image shows an illustration of an animal cell next to a photo of a whale swimming in the oean.

Diagram showing receptor-mediated endocytosis in a cell: a ligand binds to a receptor on the cell membrane, forming a coated pit that becomes a coated vesicle. The vesicle fuses with an endosome, where receptors are recycled and the contents are degraded in a lysosome.

Labeled diagram of a bacillus-shaped bacterial cell showing capsule, cell wall, cell membrane, cytoplasm, nuclear matter, pili, and a single long flagellum extending from one end.

Cutaway illustration of a eukaryotic animal cell showing labeled internal structures, including the nucleus, nucleolus, mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, and other organelles.

Labeled diagram of a bacterial cell showing key structures including capsule, cell wall, plasma membrane, cytoplasm, chromosome, plasmid, ribosomes, mesosome, pili, and long flagella.

Detailed diagram showing the transport of lipoproteins in the human body, illustrating how dietary fats and cholesterol are absorbed in the small intestine, packaged into chylomicrons, and transported through lymphatic vessels and the bloodstream. The diagram traces the conversion of chylomicrons to VLDL, IDL, LDL, and HDL particles, highlighting their roles in fat and cholesterol delivery, storage, and recycling, with labeled pathways to the liver, muscle, and adipose tissue, and includes cellu

Illustration comparing three cell types: a round animal cell and an irregularly shaped plant cell, both showing labeled organelles, and an elongated bacteria cell with labeled structures such as flagella and capsule.

Eukaryotic vs. Prokaryotic Cells: Key Differences Explained

cell membrane: References & Edit History

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Article History

Type	Description	Contributor	Date
	Modified link of Web site: National Center for Biotechnology Information - Cell Membranes.	Grace Young	Nov 07, 2026
	Added information about the main components and transport mechanisms of cell membranes.	Kara Rogers	Aug 05, 2026
	Add new Web site: IOPscience - New Journal of Physics - Focus on the physics of the cell membrane (PDF).	Grace Young	Nov 27, 2025
	Add new Web site: Digital Commons at University of Nebraska - Lincoln - Continuum Modeling of Cell Membranes (PDF).	Aakanksha Gaur	Oct 18, 2025
	Article restructured.	Kara Rogers	Oct 17, 2025
	Add new Web site: BMC - BMC Biology - Plasma membrane integrity: implications for health and disease.	Grace Young	May 16, 2025
	Media added.	Meg Matthias	Aug 23, 2024
	Add new Web site: Western Oregon University - Cell Membrane Structure and Function.	Aakanksha Gaur	May 10, 2024
	Add new Web site: Northern Arizona University - The Cell Membrane.	Gloria Lotha	Mar 27, 2024
	Add new Web site: University of Hawaiʻi Pressbooks - The Cell Membrane.	Gloria Lotha	Jan 04, 2024
	Add new Web site: Oregon State University - Anatomy and Physiology 2e - The Cell Membrane.	Gloria Lotha	Nov 07, 2023
	Add new Web site: Nature - Cell Membranes.	Emily Rodriguez	Jul 07, 2023
	Add new Web site: Khan Academy - Plasma membrane and cytoplasm.	Gloria Lotha	May 30, 2023
	Add new Web site: Frontiers - Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology - Cellular Membranes, a Versatile Adaptive Composite Material.	Aakanksha Gaur	Apr 04, 2023
	Add new Web site: OpenStax - Anatomy and Physiology 2e - The Cell Membrane.	Emily Rodriguez	Dec 04, 2022
	Add new Web site: National Center for Biotechnology Information - Cell Membranes.	Gloria Lotha	Aug 26, 2022
	New article added.	Kara Rogers	Jun 06, 2019