Cell Membrane Coloring Worksheet printable pdf download

Cell Membrane Coloring Worksheet

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Cell Membrane Coloring Worksheet

Composition of the Cell Membrane & Functions

The cell membrane is also called the plasma membrane and is made of a phospholipid

bilayer. The phospholipids have a hydrophilic (water attracting) head and two hydrophobic

(water repelling) tail. The head of a phospholipid is made of an alcohol and phosphate

group, while the tails are chains of fatty acids. Phospholipids can allow water and other

nonpolar molecules to pass through into or out of the cell. This is known as simple

diffusion because it does not require energy and the water or molecules are moving with

the concentration gradient.

Some of the functions of the cell membrane include protecting and enclosing the cell,

giving shape to the cell, allowing transportation of materials in and out of the cell, and

carrying out metabolic reactions near the inner surface of the cell membrane.

SKETCH AND LABEL

a phospholipid coloring the heads red and the tails blue.

PHOSPHOLIPID

Another type of lipid in the cell membrane is cholesterol that makes the membrane

more fluid and adds to its flexibility. Embedded in the phospholipid bilayer are proteins

that also aid in diffusion and in cell recognition. Large molecules like carbohydrates use

transport proteins to help move across cell membranes. Transport proteins go all the way

through the bilayer and so are called integral proteins. Peripheral proteins are found only

on one side of the membrane and attach only temporarily, usually to aid with a reaction

within the cell. Some of the membrane proteins have carbohydrate chains called

glycoproteins, these proteins help with cell recognition. Some lipids also have

carbohydrate chains attached and are glycolipids, these also help with cell recognition.

Cell Membrane Coloring Worksheet