Last Updated on March 19, 2022 by QCity Editorial Stuff
Cell walls and cell membranes are both important parts of a cell. The cell wall is on the outside of the cell, and the cell membrane is on the inside of the cell. They both have different jobs to do. The cell wall protects the cell, and the cell membrane controls what goes in and out of the cell.
The cell wall and the cell membrane are two important aspects of a cell that have different functions. The cell wall is mostly responsible for the shape of the cell, while the cell membrane regulates what goes in and out of the cell. The composition of both the cell wall and the cell membrane is also different.
Both the cell wall and cell membrane are important structures that make up a cell. Despite their similarities, there are some key differences between these two cellular components. The cell wall is a rigid structure that surrounds and supports the cell, while the cell membrane is responsible for regulating what enters and leaves the cell. Understanding these distinctions is important for understanding how cells function.
Comparison between Cell Wall and Cell Membrane
| Parameters of Comparison | Cell Wall | Cell Membrane |
| Inside | The cell wall is the outside layer of a plant’s cells | the cell membrane is on the inside |
| Made up | Cell walls are made up of cellulose and lignin | Cell membranes contain phospholipids that provide them with fluidity |
| Cellulose | Cell walls are made of cellulose | membranes are made of protein |
| Layer | The cell wall is the outer protective layer of a cell | The cell membrane is the outermost layer of a cell |
| Structure | A cell wall is a rigid structure that surrounds the cell | The cell membrane is like a flexible skin, which encloses the cytoplasm |
What is Cell Wall?
Cellulose is a natural polymer found in the cell walls of plants. Its primary role is to provide support and protection for the plant. Cellulose is composed of glucose monomers, which are linked together by β-1,4 glycosidic bonds. These bonds are resistant to degradation, making cellulose one of the most durable natural materials on Earth. In addition to its structural properties, cellulose also has important functional roles in plant physiology. It plays a key role in water absorption and transport, and it also helps anchor plant cells to their supporting structures. Cellulose is an important component of our diet, and it can be found in many fruits and vegetables.
Cell walls are an important part of the plant and bacterial cells. They are made of a tough, insoluble material called cellulose. Cell walls play many roles in the cell, including protecting the cell from damage and helping to keep the cell shape. In plants, the cell wall also helps to protect the plant from predators and pests. Bacterial cell walls help to protect bacteria from hostile environments and can also make bacteria more resistant to antibiotics.
What is a Cell Membrane?
The cell membrane is a thin layer of lipid molecules that surrounds the cytoplasm and nucleus, separating them from the external environment. The cell membrane is made up of phospholipids which have hydrophilic heads and hydrophobic tails. To maintain stability, water-soluble proteins are embedded within it. These protein channels allow specific substances to cross through the membrane by either passive or active transport or they can be used for signaling purposes or as carriers.
The process of osmosis is dependent on the difference in solute concentration between two solutions – one inside a cell and one outside a cell. When there is more solute outside a cell than inside, water will flow into the solution with less solute until both concentrations are equal. This causes the cell to swell and can be fatal if the cell swells too much.
10 Differences Between Cell Wall and Cell Membrane
1. The cell wall is the outside layer of a plant’s cells, while the cell membrane is on the inside.
2. Cell walls are made up of cellulose and lignin, which give plants their rigidity.
3. Cell membranes contain phospholipids that provide them with fluidity.
4. Plant cells have both a cell wall and a cell membrane.
5. Animal cells only have one or the other depending on whether they’re multicellular or unicellular.
6. Membranes are more permeable than walls because they let in nutrients to be broken down by enzymes for energy production.
7. Cell wall is a rigid structure that surrounds the cell and provides protection.
8. The cell membrane regulates what enters and leaves the cell.
9. Cell walls are made of cellulose, while membranes are made of protein.
10. Cell walls protect cells from physical damage, such as when food is digested in your stomach.
Interesting Statistics or Facts of Cell Wall
1. Cell wall is the outer protective layer of a cell.
2. The cell membrane is also known as the plasma membrane, which consists of two layers – lipid bilayer and protein molecules.
3. A cell’s cytoplasm contains all its organelles that are enclosed by ribosomes.
4. Ribosomes are responsible for synthesizing proteins from amino acids.
5. Cell wall protects cells against osmotic pressure, mechanical stress, and dehydration.
6. It also prevents unwanted substances to enter or exit through it.
Interesting Statistics or Facts of Cell Membrane
1. The cell membrane is the outermost layer of a cell.
2. It regulates what enters and leaves the cells.
3. Cell membranes are made up of phospholipids, cholesterol, proteins, glycolipids, and lipoproteins.
4. Phospholipids form bilayer sheets that create a barrier to separate water inside from outside.
5. Cholesterol is also found in the membrane which helps maintain its structure.
6. The cell membrane can be selectively permeable – allowing some substances to cross it while preventing others from entering or leaving.
Conclusion
The cell wall and the cell membrane are two of the most important parts to know about for Biology students. They work differently to separate organelles, but they also have other specific functions that will be explained below. Â You can find out more information on this blog post by reading it all or just scrolling down to see a summary at the bottom if you’re pressed for time! Â We hope you enjoy learning about these two components of cells.
The cell wall is the exterior-most structure of a plant or animal cell, and it’s usually made up primarily of cellulose. Cellulose is an organic compound that consists mostly of sugar molecules linked together in long chains called polysaccharides. These are rigid structures, so they provide support to cells as well as protection against external threats like bacteria and viruses. On the other hand, the cell membrane lies just inside this layer on both sides; its main function is to regulate what goes into and out of cells by controlling which substances can move through them via diffusion or osmosis (i.e., water). Essentially, these two components work together to keep your body healthy.
References:
Resource 01: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2016.00984/full
Resource 02: https://www.genome.gov/genetics-glossary/Cell-Membrane#:~:text
