Difference Between Cell Membrane and Plasma Membrane
Table of Contents
Main Difference
The main difference between Cell Membrane and Plasma Membrane is that Cell Membrane encloses the whole-cell, whereas Plasma Membrane refers to enclose the organelles of the cell.
Cell Membrane vs. Plasma Membrane
The cell membrane is the boundary of the complete cell. The plasma membrane is the boundary of cellular organelles. The cell membrane protects the organism from the attack of viruses and bacteria. The plasma membrane isn’t involved in the protection against bacteria and viruses. The cell membrane is always the first receiver of signal transduction and the first step to start every process. The plasma membrane is not always the first step in the process.
On cell membranes, cilia, pili, flagella, etc. may be present for feeding and locomotion process e.g., in paramecium cilia are present for movement. On the plasma membrane, cilia are not present on the surface for locomotion. The cell membrane is comprised of embedded proteins and lipid bilayer. The composition of the plasma membrane changes according to the requirements of the cell. The cell membrane faces the outer environment of the cell. The plasma membrane faces the inner environment of the cell.
Cell membrane act as a barrier between the internal environment of the cell and the outer environment of the cell. Plasma membrane act as a barrier between the inter environment of an organelle and the outer environment of the organelle. The cell membrane plays the main role in cell signaling. The plasma membrane only facilitates cell signaling communication. In the case of the plant cell, the cell membrane is surrounded by the cell, but in an animal cell, the only cell membrane is present. The plasma membrane doesn’t surround with any other membrane.
Comparison Chart
| Cell Membrane | Plasma Membrane |
| The cell membrane surrounds the entire cell | The plasma membrane surrounds the organelles |
| Helps In | |
| Signaling, feeding, and movement | Helps only in signal transduction |
| Antimicrobials Target | |
| Targeted by antimicrobials | Not always targeted |
| Cytokinesis | |
| Plays a vital role in cytokinesis | Doesn’t play any role in cytokinesis |
| Tonicity | |
| Regulates the tonicity of cell | Doesn’t help to regulate the tonicity of cell |
What is Cell Membrane?
The cell membrane is a sort of plasma membrane which helps to enclose the whole cell. Plant cells also possess a cell wall after the plasma membrane that encloses the whole cell. The cell wall is not present in the animals and acts as a barrier between the internal components of the cell and to the outer environment of the cell. The cell membrane is mainly comprised of the bilayer of phospholipids and other integral proteins. These integral proteins usually stretch the cell membrane so that they can make the pathways for the different molecules to cross the membrane.
The cell membrane acts as a selectively permeable membrane because of the existence of lipids molecules which are act as hydrophobic molecules that repel the water and phosphate molecules that act as hydrophilic that don’t repel the water. The cell membrane also comprised some glycerol molecules that make a structure named as the lipid tail. Some molecules of cholesterols are also present in the composition of the cell membrane, which helps the membrane to provide support and stiffness.
In the case of some organisms, cell membrane possesses cilia like appendages which help the organism for movement and feeding. Our cell membrane plays ital roles in different functions like protection etc. The cell membrane protects the cell form many bacteria and viruses that come from the outside. It also helps to correctly maintain the tonicity of the cell by regulating the movement of water and solutes. It also assists in signal transduction. The cell membrane plays an important role in the process of cytokinesis.
What is Plasma Membrane?
The plasma membrane is a type of biomembrane which encloses the different organelles and other cellular content of an individual. The plasma membrane plays a cardinal role regarding the protection. It also plays a leading role in phosphorylation reactions. The plasma membrane creates a barrier organelles and the cell’s environment. It makes ease to maintain the signaling and communication between the cells. The plasma membrane also serves as a selectively permeable membrane as it permits some particles to pass through it. The structure of the plasma membrane is changed according to the organelle at which it surrounds.
As the plasma membrane has the ability of selective permeability and actively controls the movement of substances in or out of the organelle. In the case of molecules, the plasma membrane is choosy and differs by organelle to the organelle. At different times organelles perform various functions, and molecules need specific conditions of entry and leaving the organelles, for instance, mitochondria compared with chloroplast. The plasma membrane performs its function according to its location. The plasma membrane contains receptors for cell communication.
The plasma membrane is slightly different organelle to organelle to perform a specific function according to the demand of an organelle. For example, for aerobic respiration, pyruvate molecules need to enter inside the mitochondria, and carbon dioxide needs to enter the chloroplast during the process of photosynthesis. The plasma membrane is a rigid-flexible cover on the organelles which acts as a barrier between the organelles respective to their environment. Besides organelles plasma membrane also surrounds the cytoplasm.
Key Differences
Conclusion
It is concluded that the cell membrane encloses the cell and the plasma membrane encloses the cell organelles.
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