cell membrane

noun, Biology
1.
the semipermeable membrane enclosing the cytoplasm of a cell.
Origin
1865-70
Examples from the web for cell membrane
  • Indeed, around half of the drugs currently on the market work by interacting with proteins in the cell membrane.
  • Hemolytic anemias: red cell membrane and metabolic defects.
  • First, the red cell membrane protects hemoglobin from degradation and protects tissues from the toxic effects of free hemoglobin.
  • When delivered to the brain or eyes via gene therapy, the protein sits on the cell membrane and opens when exposed to light.
British Dictionary definitions for cell membrane

cell membrane

noun
1.
a very thin membrane, composed of lipids and protein, that surrounds the cytoplasm of a cell and controls the passage of substances into and out of the cell Also called plasmalemma, plasma membrane
cell membrane in Medicine

cell membrane n.
The semipermeable membrane that encloses the cytoplasm of a cell. Also called cytomembrane, plasmalemma, plasma membrane.

cell membrane in Science
cell membrane  
The thin membrane that forms the outer surface of the protoplasm of a cell and regulates the passage of materials in and out of the cell. It is made up of proteins and lipids and often contains molecular receptors. The membranes of organelles within the cell are made of the same basic material as the cell membrane. In plant cells, the cell membrane is surrounded by a rigid cell wall. Also called plasma membrane. Compare cell wall. See more at cell.
cell membrane in Culture

cell membrane definition


The structure separating an animal cell from its environment or a plant cell from its cell wall. The cell membrane is a complex system that allows nutrients to enter the cell and waste products to leave, usually through osmosis.