Introduction to Human Body Cell
The cell in the human body is a very intriguing thing to study to say the least. It is a brilliant example of how smart the human body is and what exactly it does to keep itself alive. The human cell was initially known to have lesser components than what we know now. We know that the human body is a wonderful machine that does most of its job involuntarily without our involvement in it. The cell is also the same. The cell carries out most of its function without our conscious control over it and leads to the survival of our bodies. There are certain components of a cell. In this article we will be taking a look at two of the most important parts of the cell structure. The Cell Membrane and the plasma membrane.
Both Cell membrane and plasma membrane are integral parts of cell structure. These two components are the protective layers that protect the cell from external shocks.
The cell organelles, along with all the ions and molecules, are surrounded by these two layers. Often these two terms are used synonymously, but the difference between cell membrane and plasma membrane is substantial.
What is Plasma Membrane?
Plasma membrane is a kind of phospholipid membrane, present in all cells. It protects the protoplasm of a cell from outer hazards and checks the movements of molecules in and out of a cell.
What is Cell Membrane?
Cell membrane is a thin multifaceted layer that acts as a barrier between the inner parts of a cell and the other part. It protects the cytoplasm of a cell and also provides shape to a cell. This particular membrane is a part of all cells, animals and plants.
However, in plant cells, algae and fungi, a cell wall is present and it envelopes the membrane. It is a kind of plasma membrane.
Once you know the basic concepts of these membranes, it will be easier for you to differentiate between plasma membrane and cell wall. Let’s begin!
Plasma Membrane vs Cell Wall
There are a few differences between plasma membrane and cell wall. Some of them are discussed below.
Apart from these, the most fundamental difference between plasma membrane and cell wall is that the former one is present in the inner lining of all cells while the latter one protects the membrane (specific cells).
MCQ: which organelle participates in cell wall synthesis?
Chloroplast
Mitochondria
Lysosome
Golgi apparatus
Ans. 4
Conclusion
We hope that students understood details about the functions, texture, permeability, composition, and structure of the cell membrane and the plasma membrane and also how different they are from each other. Keep this article handy for future use!
FAQs on Difference between Cell Membrane and Plasma Membrane
1. Is cell membrane and plasma membrane the same?
No, they are not the same thing. While cell membrane covers the entire components of a cell, plasma membrane covers only the cell’s organelles. Some main differences between the two are the fact that the plasma membrane encloses the organelles, whereas the cell membrane encloses the entire cell. Moreover, the cell membrane can protect the cell from outside viruses and bacterias, the plasma membrane, however, cannot do this.
2. How is a cell wall different from cell membrane?
Cell membrane is present in all cells while the cell wall remains only in bacteria, plants, algae and fungi. Also, the cell membrane contains proteins and lipids, whereas the cell wall consists of cellulose. Finally, the former one is living, and the latter one is non-living.
3. Where is plasma membrane found?
Plasma membrane is found in all cells. It protects the inner components of the cell from outside environment. It is located in the outside parts of the cell and its main job is to separate the outside of the cell from the interior parts and components of the cell.
4. What are the other important parts of the cell structure?
There are several important parts of the cell structure like Cell membrane, cytoplasm, cell organelles, etc. Cells are incredible things that support our life and there are several components that make it possible for the cell structure to be intact and working.
5. What is inside a cell?
As mentioned before, there are a lot of components inside a cell. The best way to understand and know what exactly is inside a cell along with animations that will help you understand everything better, is when you watch a video from Vedantu. We have dedicated an entire video where we deep dive inside a cell and the animations help you understand what the entire idea behind cell components and their functions is.
6. Are humans Prokaryotes?
No. Humans are not prokaryotes. A prokaryotic cell does not have a membrane-bound nucleus or cell organelles. The human cell on the other hand has a well separated and clearly defined nucleus along with membrane-bound organelles. Therefore, human beings are Eukaryotes and not Prokaryotes. Some other examples of a Prokaryotic cell are, cells in plants, fungi, etc.
