The modern understanding of the plasma membrane is referred to as the fluid mosaic model. The plasma membrane is composed of a bilayer of phospholipids, with their hydrophobic, fatty acid tails in contact with each other. The landscape of the membrane is studded with proteins, some of which span the membrane. Some of these proteins serve to transport materials into or out of the cell. Carbohydrates are attached to some of the proteins and lipids on the outward-facing surface of the membrane. These form complexes that function to identify the cell to other cells. The fluid nature of the membrane owes itself to the configuration of the fatty acid tails, the presence of cholesterol embedded in the membrane (in animal cells), and the mosaic nature of the proteins and protein-carbohydrate complexes, which are not firmly fixed in place. Plasma membranes enclose the borders of cells, but rather than being a static bag, they are dynamic and constantly in flux.            

All images referenced in this podcast can be found at https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/3-4-the-cell-membrane            

Welcome to Principles of Biology, this podcast will attempt to explain how life works.       

The content contained in this podcast was produced by OpenStax and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License.     

Access for free at https://openstax.org/details/books/concepts-biology Podcast produced by Miranda Casturo as a Creative Common Sense production.       

No part of this podcast is made with generative AI         

Voice narration provided by computerized text-to-speech through voicemaker.in       

For those who prefer ad free listening other options of support are available at https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/principles-of-biology--5666059/support