Chapter 2, Problem 10RQ

Summary Introduction

Cell wall and cytoplasmic membrane are considered as the most vital structures of a cell. In a bacterial cell, cell wall provides rigidity and shape of the cell. It also prevents the bacterial cell from lysis due to an increased osmotic pressure. The cytoplasm of a bacteria possesses increased concentration of dissolved solutes and this creates a substantial osmotic pressure. In order to prevent cell from bursting and to withstand these osmotic pressures, the cell wall is present exterior to the cytoplasmic membrane of a bacterial cell.