Structure and Composition of Cell Membrane
Despite differences in structure and function, all living cells in multicellular organisms are surrounded by a cell membrane. Just like the outer layer of the skin separates the body from its environment similarly, the cell membrane, also known as 'plasma membrane,' separates the inner content from its exterior environment.
Cell Membrane
The cell membrane is known by different names like plasma membrane or cytoplasmic membrane, or biological membrane. The term "cell membrane" was first introduced by C. Nageli and C. Cramer in the year 1855. Later on, in 1931, the term "plasmalemma" for cell membrane was given by J. Plowe. The cell membrane separates the cell's internal environment from the extracellular space. This separation allows the protection of cells from their environment.
Prokaryotes vs Eukaryotes
The cell is defined as the basic structural and functional unit of life. The cell membrane bounds it. It is capable of independent existence.
How does the scaling of surface area to volume ratio limit the size of cells?
body cells cannot be too small because they would not be able to get oxygen across their membranes fast enough to accommodate all of their mitochondria
"body cells cannot be to small because they would not have enough surface area to get rid of CO2, urea, and other nitrogenous wastes fast enough
body cells cannot be too large because organelles and enzymes deep in the interior would not be able to get enough O2 or nutrients
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