The significant difference between cell walls and cell membranes shows that the cell wall is an entirely permeable cell coating available in algae, fungi, bacteria, and plants. On the other hand, the cell membrane is a particularly permeable membrane available in every cell kind, which also has to do with animal cells. The cell membrane, the plasma membrane and the cell wall are the outermost cell coating that divides cell organelles from the exterior setting. These unique coatings offer structure to the cells and function as a mechanical obstacle to safeguard the inner cell organelles. Although, unlike the cell membrane, which is available in every kind of cell, the cell walls are available only in the cells of plants, so many protest and fungi, unless animal cells. This article will explain the difference between cell walls and cell membranes both in animal cells and plant cells.
What is a Cell Wall?
The cell wall is described as the outermost coating of various cells except for animal cells. Fungi, plants, bacteria, and many protists have to do with a cell wall encircling the cell membrane of their cells. Configuratvely, it is a tough coating that offers a definite structure to the cell. However, the arrangement of this cell wall varies among the various organisms. Peptidoglycan is the primary that is available in the bacteria cell wall.
In contrast to cell membranes, chitin is the primary element available in the fungal cell walls. A plant’s cell walls consist of cellulose which is its primary compound. Similarly, the primary compound that provides a distinct trait to their cell walls varies between the groups of the organism and facilitates the simple designation. Contrary to the cell membrane, the cell wall is a completely permeable coating. It does not pick out the compounds that enter or exit the cell. However, it deters the cells from blowing up. As the cell wall is the exterior part of the coatings available in various cells, it satisfies many processes which have to do with giving format stability, providing a specific form to the cells, and safeguarding the cells against pathogens and mechanical damages.
What is a Cell Membrane?
The cell membrane, which can be described as a plasma membrane, is a particularly porous coating available in every of the cell kinds. It encircles the cell and divides its content from the external environment. However, it is a flexible membrane with a 5 to 10nm thickness. Formatively, it is a phospholipid bilayer. Outside these two leaflets of the phospholipid molecules, two kinds of protein molecules are also available in the cell membrane. These include the integral protein and the peripheral protein. In these two kinds, the essential proteins endlessly connect with the phospholipids coatings, whereas the peripheral protein momentarily connects with the phospholipid coating. Many integral proteins are transmembrane proteins that widen across the phospholipids bilayer. The fluid mosaic model is the prototype that perfectly describes the earlier-mentioned formation of cell membranes. All these elements of the cell membrane offer so many operations other than structural aid and safety. Mostly, transmembrane proteins function as carrier proteins that enhance the membrane transportation of molecules. They have to do with active and passive transport, and as well, they function as track proteins and receptor proteins. Adding to the proteins and phospholipids, carbohydrate chains connect with proteins and the lipid bilayer of the cell membrane. Fundamentally, they are essential in the self-distinction and tissue distinction of cells. Also, there are some lipid molecules, referred to as cholesterol and glycolipids, which helps the formation of the cell membrane.
Difference Between Cell Wall and Cell Membrane
- Cell walls are the completely permeable exterior coatings available in plants, algal, bacteria, and fungal cells. On the other hand, the cell membrane is described as the particularly permeable membrane available in almost every cell.
- Cell walls can be discovered in plants, fungi, and some of the protest cells, only not found in animal cells. The cell membrane can be discovered in every kind of animal cell.
- The cell wall comprises cellulose, peptidoglycan, chitin, and more. Cell membranes consist of phospholipids, carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins.
- The cell wall possesses a strong and thick cell element, while the cell membrane has a flexible and comparatively thin membrane.
- The cell wall is the external covering of plant, protist, and fungal cells. The cell membrane is the outer covering of the animal cell.
- Cell walls can be discovered outside the plasma membrane. The cell membrane can be found outside the cytoplasm.
- Cell receptors are absent in the cell wall but available in the cell membrane.
- The cell wall is entirely porous, while the cell membrane is partly permeable.
- The cell wall can be seen under the light microscope, while the cell membrane can only be seen under the electron microscope.
- The cell wall gives formative strength, providing a specific form to the cell and safeguarding the cell against pathogens and mechanical damage. Cell membrane gives a form to the cell, functioning as a barrier, particularly transportation of molecules across the membrane and control of ions’ activities inside and outside the cell.
