Histology 1 Plasma Membrane

Front 1

What are the general features of the plasma membrane

Back 1

1. self-forming.
2. pivotal in: endocytosis/exocytosis, adhesion, movement (chemotaxis), signal transduction.
3. discriminating selectively permeable barriers controlling movement of nutrients and waste.
4. surround every cell and specialized apical structures (microvilli, stereocilia, cilia).
5. contain proteins, lipids, and sugar moieties.
6. contain molecules that anchor to extracellular matrix and cytoskeletal structures.
7. asymmetrical with respect to lipid distribution and protein structure.
8. includes the cell coat (glycocalyx).

Front 2

What is the architecture of plasma membranes

Back 2

1. All biological membranes contain lipids and proteins, but their ratio differs.
2. Basic organization: a phospholipid bilayer with hydrophobic tails facing the interior and the
hydrophilic head groups facing out.
3.Cholesterol and integral membrane proteins make the bilayer a selectively permeable structure.
4. The plasma membrane is not a rigid structure: Both proteins and phospholipids diffuse.

Front 3

What are lipids and how are they associated with the plasma membrane

Back 3

1. water-insoluble biomolecules.
2. form the bilayer matrix of membranes.
3. Form artificial structures (liposomes) in an aqueous solution.
4. amphipathic.
5. function in forming membrane structure, cell-cell interactions, signaling.

Front 4

What are 3 kinds of lipids?

Back 4

1. Phospholipid
2. Glycolipid
3. Cholesterol

Front 5

What are the 2 kinds of phospholipids

Back 5

glycerol- based
sphingosine-based