From Encyclopedia Jr, free information reference for Kids
In medicine, microbiology, cellular physiology and biochemistry a membrane is a lipid bilayer that acts as a boundary to various cellular structures, and can refer to:
- Basement membrane, the combination of the basal lamina and lamina reticularis or of two basal laminae
- Biological membrane
- Cell membrane
- Endomembrane system that divides the cell into organelles
- Outer membrane or inner membrane of an organelle
- S-layer, a cell membrane of bacteria
- Mucous membrane
- Serous membrane and mesothelium that surround organs, including:
- Peritoneum that lines the abdominal cavity
- Pericardium that surrounds the heart
- Pleura that surround the lungs
- Periosteum, membrane that surrounds bone
- The meninges that surround the brain: the dura mater, arachnoid mater, and the pia mater
- Skin, part of the integumentary system
Membrane may also refer to:
- Artificial, semipermeable membranes which are used to separate species in a fluid on the basis of size, charge or other characteristics. Such membranes are employed in a range of applications from water and wastewater treatment (see reverse osmosis, nanofiltration, ultrafiltration and microfiltration) to hydrogen fuel cells (see proton exchange membrane).
- Branes, in string theory
