Question

What is plasma membrane

Answer 1

Plasma membrane is a membrane outermost in plant cell and inner to cell wall in plant cell

It is made up of lipids and proteins

And is selectively permeable i.e. It only allows selective substances to pass through it

Functions of Plasma membrane

• It protects intracellular organelles from the outside environment.
• It selectively allows the molecules to move in and out of the cell. Gases such as carbon dioxide and oxygen pass through diffusion, while other small molecules such as sugar pass through a process called passive transport. Ions such as sodium or potassium are transported through a process called active transport (with the utilization of ATP). Movement of water molecules through the membrane takes place by osmosis.
• It can also engulf or expel substances in and out of the cell through endocytosis or exocytosis respectively. Endocytosis is the process through which cells take in extra-cellular substances. Endocytosis represents both phagocytosis (ingestion of whole food),and pinocytosis (ingestion of water).
• It establishes communication between cells