Cell Membrane

All cells are bounded by a cell membrane, that functions as a dynamic barrier to isolate cells from their environment. The cell membrane also mediates biochemical interactions between cells and their surrounding environment. The cell membrane is a 10 nm thick phospholipid bilayer that is composed of lipids, cholesterol, sugars, and a variety of proteins. Although clearly evident in these cells, the cell membrane is often difficult to distinguish by H&E staining.