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Is the cell membrane the same as the plasma membrane?
Posted April 15, 2022
Answer
No, the cell membrane is not the same as the plasma membrane. Although both terms are often used interchangeably, they are in fact both different. The cell membrane surrounds the entire cell and all its components whereas the plasma membrane surrounds only the individual organelles inside the cell. There are several other differences between the two. These are the key areas of difference between the cell membrane and the plasma membrane:
| Basis of Differentiation | Cell Membrane | Plasma Membrane |
| Location | Encloses the entire cell and all its components including organelles | Encloses individual organelles inside the cell |
| Barrier function | Forms a barrier separating cellular contents from the outside environment | Forms a barrier between the cell organelles and the outside environment |
| Inovlvement in cytokinesis | Plays a vital role in cytokinesis during cell division | May or may not play a role in cytokinesis during cell division |
| Tonicity | Regulates tonicity of the cell | Does not necessarily regulate tonicity of the cell |
| Protection from foreign invaders | Plays a key role in protecting the cell from viruses, bacteria and other invading pathogens | Does not always play a role in protecting the cell from foreign pathogens |
| Cell signaling | Contains initial receptors for signal transduction and is the first step in cell signaling | Is involved in cell signaling but does not contain initial receptors and is not the first step in the process |
Additional resources
The Lateral Organization and Mobility of Plasma Membrane Components
Cell Navigator™ Cell Plasma Membrane Staining Kit *Green Fluorescence*