Translations:Zellmembran/3/en

The cell membrane (Membrana cellularis, cytomembrane) or peanale (lat. membrane), also called plasma membrane in plant cells, is a biomembrane that surrounds the living cell and maintains its inner environment. At a thickness of about 6-10 nm, it can be detected by light microscopy only as a vague line. Each cell identifies itself externally by means of its peripheral proteins (see antigen). These membrane proteins lie or ″schwimmen″ on or in the membrane. In addition, short-chain, partly tree-like branched carbohydrate compounds are often attached to the proteins and lipids on the outside of the cell membrane for labelling purposes. This is referred to as glycoproteins or glycolipids. The external structures of the cell membrane often have a receptor function. These glycoproteins and glycolipids also form glycocalyx, which provides stability in cells without cell walls. The outer side of the cell membrane is occupied by different receptors.