The cell membrane
Abstract
The cell membrane forms an integral part of cellular homeostasis. This article will review the structure and function of physiological membranes and how the lipid bilayer plays an important role in maintaining cellular integrity, ion permeability, and membrane potential as well as being selectively permeable to certain biological substances. This review looks at the physico-chemical and structural properties of the plasma membrane which affords it the unique property of selective permeability and action potential generation. Furthermore, the mechanisms by which permeability occurs across the membrane are also discussed.
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