Roles of Membranes
- Membranes are vital structures found in all cells
- The cell surface membrane creates an enclosed space separating the internal cell environment from the external environment
- Intracellular membranes (internal membranes) form compartments within the cell, such as organelles (including the nucleus, mitochondria and RER) and vacuoles
- Membranes not only separate different areas but also control the exchange of materials passing through them; they are partially permeable
- Membranes form partially permeable barriers between the cell and its environment, between cytoplasm and organelles and also within organelles
- Substances can cross membranes by diffusion, facilitated diffusion, osmosis and active transport
- Membranes play a role in cell signalling by acting as an interface for communication between cells
Membranes formed from phospholipid bilayers help to compartmentalise different regions within the cell, as well as forming the cell surface membrane
Examiner Tip
An example of a membrane-bound organelle is the lysosome (found in animal cells), each containing many hydrolytic enzymes that can break down many different kinds of biomolecule. These enzymes need to be kept compartmentalised otherwise they would breakdown most of the cellular components