membrane
Thin biological barrier
A membrane is a thin, flexible layer that separates, encloses, or lines something.
In biology, cell membranes control what passes in and out; mucous membranes line body cavities.
The word extends to any thin barrier: a membrane of ice on the pond, the membrane of a drum.
Membrane suggests both separation and selective permeability—keeping things apart while allowing some exchange.
Phosphate-containing membrane lipid
- semipermeableAllowing partial passage
- cell wallRigid cellular outer layer
- organelleSubcellular functional unit
- vesicleSmall fluid-filled sac
endoplasmic reticulum · lysosome · cytoplasm · homeostasis · cholesterol · glycoprotein · mosaic · cytoskeleton
Solvent crossing semipermeable barrier
- diffusionPassive molecular spreading
- semipermeableAllowing partial passage
- aquaporinMembrane protein for water
- concentration gradientDifference in solute density
endocytosis · exocytosis · phagocytosis · solute · permeability · selectivity · flux · gradient
Membrane enclosing developing fetus
- chorionOuter embryonic membrane
- pellicleThin organic membrane
- filmMovie or coating
- coatingApplied surface covering
lining · sheath · envelope · enclosure · barrier · casing · skin · layer
Moist organ lining
- meningesBrain and cord coverings
- pericardiumMembranous cardiac enclosure
- peritoneumMembrane lining the abdomen
- pleuraMembrane around lungs
synovial · tympanic · amniotic · dura mater · arachnoid · serous · epithelium · endothelium
Pressure-driven membrane filtration
- desalinationExtracting salt from seawater
- dialysisMechanical blood filtration
- semipermeableAllowing partial passage
- permeateSpread through entirely
crossflow · polyamide · hollow fiber · filtrate · separation · purification · water treatment · hemodialysis
Waterproof breathable fabric membrane
- breathablePermits air passage
- waterproofImpervious to moisture
- syntheticProduced artificially, not natural
- polymerLarge repeated-unit molecule
porous · sheet · thin film · laminate · textile · fabric · tensile · PTFE
Signal-receiving molecule
- ligandMolecule that binds centrally
- phosphorylationPhosphate group attachment process
- kinasePhosphate-transferring enzyme
- neurotransmitterSynaptic chemical messenger
synaptic · presynaptic · hormone receptor · cascade · effector · binding site
phospholipid
Phosphate-containing membrane lipid
- semipermeableAllowing partial passage
- cell wallRigid cellular outer layer
- organelleSubcellular functional unit
vesicle · endoplasmic reticulum · lysosome · cytoplasm · homeostasis · cholesterol · glycoprotein · mosaic · cytoskeleton · bilayer
osmosis
Solvent crossing semipermeable barrier
- diffusionPassive molecular spreading
- semipermeableAllowing partial passage
- aquaporinMembrane protein for water
concentration gradient · endocytosis · exocytosis · phagocytosis · solute · permeability · selectivity · flux · gradient
amniotic sac
Membrane enclosing developing fetus
coating · lining · sheath · envelope · enclosure · barrier · casing · skin · layer · covering
mucosa
Moist organ lining
- meningesBrain and cord coverings
- pericardiumMembranous cardiac enclosure
- peritoneumMembrane lining the abdomen
pleura · synovial · tympanic · amniotic · dura mater · arachnoid · serous · epithelium · endothelium · conjunctiva
reverse osmosis
Pressure-driven membrane filtration
- desalinationExtracting salt from seawater
- dialysisMechanical blood filtration
- semipermeableAllowing partial passage
permeate · crossflow · polyamide · hollow fiber · filtrate · separation · purification · water treatment · hemodialysis
Gore-Tex
Waterproof breathable fabric membrane
- breathablePermits air passage
- waterproofImpervious to moisture
- syntheticProduced artificially, not natural
polymer · porous · sheet · thin film · laminate · textile · fabric · tensile · PTFE · silicone
receptor
Signal-receiving molecule
- ligandMolecule that binds centrally
- phosphorylationPhosphate group attachment process
- kinasePhosphate-transferring enzyme
neurotransmitter · synaptic · presynaptic · hormone receptor · cascade · effector · binding site
- cell partsnucleus, cytoplasm, mitochondria, ribosomes, ribosome
- childbirth anatomyuterus, womb, placenta, umbilical cord, cervix
- egg biologyegg, eggshell, egg white, egg yolk, yolk
- Microscopicbacterium, virus, amoeba, paramecium, microbe
- reptile anatomyskeleton, bones, lungs, skull, ribs
- cytologycytology, Pap test, cell division, cytoplasm, chromosome
membraneairtight seal
Impermeable boundary preventing airflow
hermetic seal · blockade · seal · obstruction
- thin membrane
- cell membraneOuter layer of cytoplasm
- inner membraneInnermost surrounding tissue layer
- mucous membranesSlick tissue lining cavities
- plasma membraneLipid bilayer enclosing cytoplasm
- tough membrane
membrane separation, membranes, membranous, membrane protein