cell structure (cell membrane structure)

Question 1

what model is used to describe cell membranes?

Answer 1

fluid mosaic

Question 2

why is it referred to as having a fluid mosaic structure?

Answer 2

phospholipids are constantly moving

proteins are scattered throughout

Question 3

what type of structure is a cell membrane?

Answer 3

phospholipid bilayer

Question 4

what proteins are present in a phospholipid bilayer?

Answer 4

channel proteins and carrier proteins allow large molecules and ions to pass through the membrane
receptor proteins on the cell surface membrane allow the cell to detect chamicals that are released from other cells

Question 5

what is a glycoprotein?

Answer 5

protein with a polysaccharide chain attached

Question 6

what is a glycolipid?

Answer 6

lipid with a polysaccharide chain attached

Question 7

what is the head of a phospholipid?

Answer 7

hydrophillic- attracts water

Question 8

what is the tail of a phospholipid?

Answer 8

hydrophobic- repels water

Question 9

how is a bilayer arranged?

Answer 9

hydrophillic heads face outwards, centre is hydrophobic so the membrane doesn’t allow water soluble substances to pass through it

Question 10

what is cholesterol?

Answer 10

a type of lipid

Question 11

what is the purpose of cholesterol?

Answer 11

fits between phospholipids, which causes hydrophobic tails to pack closer together, restricting the movement of phospholipids making the membrane more rigid