Factors Affecting The Permeability Of A Cell Membrane

Introduction

The cell membrane provides a boundary between the intracellular environment and the extracellular environment. The membrane is selectively permeable only allowing some substances to pass through while some can’t.

The cell membrane consists of two phospholipid bilayers. Each layer has an electrically charged, hydrophilic head, while the tail is an uncharged hydrophobic. The electrically charged head of these layers face toward the water as the uncharged tails face each other. This makes it easier for small, neutrally-charged molecules to pass through the cell membrane as opposed to charged and larger molecules. Within the phospholipid bilayer there is embedded proteins which form a mosaic patterns. The protein molecules are crucial in transporting substances through the membrane and cell signaling. …show more content…
Research

What affects the permeability of a cell membrane:

The function of the cell membrane is to control what passes in and out of cells, provides structure and allows cells to communicate with one another. The membrane only allows particular substances to pass through but not others, as it controls the entrance and exit of molecules and ions. Certain factors can affect the permeability of the membrane which include:

- Chemicals: This is as organic solvents such as chloroform and ethanol dissolve the membrane, which destroy the selective permeability of it.

- Temperature : When the cell is exposed to high temperatures it will denature the protein that make up the membrane, which will destroy its selective