Level of life
Cell
The smallest unit that can live on its own. Every living thing is made of one or more cells.
Cell membrane
Controls what enters and leaves the cell.Source: NHGRISource: Alberts et al., 2002Source: Neher & Sakmann, 1976
Also called plasma membrane.
Structure
How Cell membrane connects
Cell membrane is part of
Cell membrane includes
Molecule
Ion channel
A protein pore that lets particular ions cross a membrane. Single channels can be recorded opening and closing.
Cell membrane is related to
Health condition
Cystic fibrosis
An inherited condition caused by variants in the CFTR gene, in which thick mucus damages the lungs, digestive system and other organs.
Studied in
Your progress
Sources & further reading
The explanations on this page are our own summaries of these sources. Follow a link to read the original; if anything here disagrees with it, the original wins. How we choose and check sources.
Cell Membrane (Plasma Membrane) (opens the original in a new tab)
National Human Genome Research Institute. Talking Glossary of Genomic and Genetic Terms. National Human Genome Research Institute, NIH.
ReferenceGovernment sourceEducationalMolecular Biology of the Cell (4th edition) (opens the original in a new tab)
Alberts B, Johnson A, Lewis J, et al. (2002). Garland Science.
Free to read on NCBI Bookshelf. Standard reference for cell structure and molecular biology.
TextbookEducationalSingle-channel currents recorded from membrane of denervated frog muscle fibres (opens the original in a new tab)
Neher E, Sakmann B (1976). Nature 260:799-802.
Peer-reviewedPrimary research