Summary Structure and Function of Membranes

5.1 The Structure and Function of
Membranes
First review @October 2, 2023

Practise Q's Done

membranes separate contents of cells from their environment, they also separate
organelles from each other and the cytosol

some organelles are divided further my internal membranes, e.g. mitochondria

compartmentalisation is the name given to the process in which separate membrane-
bound areas within a cell are formed

this is important because metabolism (all the chemical reactions that occur within
a cell) reactions cannot happen in the same conditions

compartmentalisations allows different reactions to occur within different areas of a
cell

Membrane structure
the cell surface membrane that separates a membrane from its external environment is
called the plasma membrane

membranes are formed from a phospholipid bilayer

phospholipid bilayers are both hydrophobic and hydrophilic

the fatty acid ‘tails are hydrophobic and are sandwiched together to form a
hydrophobic core within the plasma membrane whereas the phosphate heads are
hydrophilic and face the outside of the plasma membrane




5.1 The Structure and Function of Membranes 1