The cell membrane is a selective barrier that controls all molecular traffic entering and leaving the cell. Through various transport processes including diffusion, osmosis, and endocytosis, the membrane maintains cellular homeostasis while allowing essential exchanges with the environment.
đ§ Key Transport Concepts
Membrane controls what enters and exits cells
Selective permeability maintains cell function
Transport occurs via multiple mechanisms
Water balance is critical for cell survival
Membrane Magic
Cell membranes are only about 7 nanometers thick - if you could stack 10,000 membranes, they would be thinner than a human hair!
đ¯ Learning Objectives
Understand membrane structure, explore transport mechanisms, and learn how cells maintain proper water balance through osmotic regulation.