Cell Wall and Cell Membrane – What is the Difference?
This video explains the difference between cell wall and cell membrane which is also known as plasma membrane.
Cell Membrane:
- It is present in all the cells.
- In animal cells, it forms the outermost boundary and other than animal cells it is present inner to the cell wall.
- Cell membrane or plasma membrane is responsible for maintaining a constant environment in the cell cytoplasm.
- It is made up of phospholipid bilayer and it is selectively permeable.
- Cell membrane is thin and delicate and is visible under electron microscope.
Cell Wall:
- It is present in plants, fungus and bacteria and is absent in animal cells.
- Cell wall forms the outmost boundary of the cells.
- It provides protection and shape to the cell.
- In plants, cell wall is made of cellulose, in fungus it is chitin and in bacteria it is made of peptidoglycan.
- Cell wall is thick and rigid and is visible under light microscope.
Learn more about Plasma Membrane – Fluid Mosaic Model here.
Reference book to follow for the given topic: Molecular Biology of the Cell – B. Alberts