Multiple Choice
Which structure is described as the membrane that surrounds and protects the cell?
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8. Membrane Structure
The Lipid Bilayer
Multiple Choice
Which statement best describes the lipid bilayer as it relates to the cell membrane in plant and animal cells?
A
It is the fundamental structural framework of the plasma membrane in both plant and animal cells, consisting mainly of phospholipids arranged in two layers.
B
It is a protein-only sheet that provides selective permeability by forming a continuous pore network.
C
It is a rigid cell wall layer found only in plant cells, composed primarily of cellulose.
D
It is a single layer of triglycerides that stores energy and forms the main barrier around animal cells.
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand the structure of the cell membrane: The cell membrane, also called the plasma membrane, is a critical component of both plant and animal cells that controls what enters and leaves the cell.
Recall the composition of the lipid bilayer: The lipid bilayer is primarily made up of phospholipids, which have hydrophilic (water-attracting) heads and hydrophobic (water-repelling) tails, causing them to arrange themselves in two layers with tails facing inward and heads facing outward.
Recognize the role of the lipid bilayer: This bilayer forms the fundamental structural framework of the plasma membrane, providing a flexible yet stable barrier that separates the cell interior from the external environment.
Differentiate the lipid bilayer from other structures: It is not a protein-only sheet, nor is it a rigid cell wall (which is found only in plant cells and made of cellulose), and it is not a single layer of triglycerides (which are fats used for energy storage, not membrane structure).
Conclude that the correct description is that the lipid bilayer is the fundamental structural framework of the plasma membrane in both plant and animal cells, consisting mainly of phospholipids arranged in two layers.
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