Definition of cell membrane Cell membrane
cell mem•brane
We found 4 definitions of cell membrane from 4 different sources.
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What does cell membrane mean?
WordNet
Noun |
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| cell membrane - a thin membrane (a double layer of lipids) enclosing the cytoplasm of a cell; proteins in the membrane control passage of ions (like sodium or potassium or calcium) in and out of the cell; "all cells have a cell membrane" | ||
| cytomembrane, plasma membrane | ||
| semipermeable membrane a membrane (as a cell membrane) that allows some molecules to pass through but not others | ||
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Wiktionary 
- cell membrane (Noun)
The semipermeable membrane that surrounds the cytoplasm of a cell.
OmegaWiki DictionaryOmegaWiki Dictionary Ω
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cell membrane
The biological membrane separating the interior of a cell from the outside environment.
Wikipedia 
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The cell membrane is a thin flexible barrier around cells of organisms.
Function.
The cell membrane controls the chemicals entering and leaving the cell. It lets good chemicals come into the cell, and lets bad chemicals go out of it.
Structure.
The membrane is made up of a thin film called the lipid bilayer. The lipid bilayer is two lipid molecules with polar heads and nonpolar tails facing away from each other. This prevents large molecules from entering, but still allows the small molecule of water to enter. The cell membrane can also be thought of as a skin or a window screen.
It also has proteins around or inside it. Some proteins are always fixed onto it, these are called integral membrane proteins. It also has some which are only partially fixed onto it. These are called peripheral membrane proteins.
