Cell membrane serves a very important function within the human body. It serves as the protection and insulation for every single cell inside of our bodies. All of our vital organs and tissues would be exposed if not for cell membrane. Let’s take a closer look at some more interesting facts about cell membrane and the functions it serves.
1. What Roles Do Cell Membranes Play?
Each of our cells is filled with DNA. Inside of that DNA is a vast library of information. Many medical experts compare the inside of a person’s DNA to the hard drive of a computer. The cell membrane essentially functions as the keyboard for this hard drive. It is responsible for the control of the DNA and consistently sends instructions.
If the cell membrane is to break down, the cells will die instantly. For this reason, cell membrane should be considered as important to our day to day functions as the brain. These membranes are so tiny that we cannot even begin to comprehend them. You would need to take roughly ten thousand membranes and stack them on top of one another before you could equal the thickness of one sheer of paper.
2. The Volumne of the Cell
Even though the cell membrane are tiny and imperceptible to the naked eye, their sheer volume is one of the more amazing aspects of the human body. Inside of the liver, there is a whopping 300,000 square feet of cell membrane. If you were to lay the membrane inside of the liver down flat, it would stretch over the length of four football fields.
3. How They Function
Our cell membrane is what allows our eyes to see. The eye’s retina contains millions and millions of photo receptor cells. These cells are known as rods and cones. Each of these receptor cells have receivers inside of them known as rhodopsin. The rhodospin sit within the cell membrane and wait for a photon, otherwise known as a portion of light.
Once the photons have been captured, the cones and rods begin to send signals to the brain by using the nerve cell membranes. Without these cell membranes, the signals would not be able to travel to the brain and we would be without sight.
4. Maintain Healthy Cells
The cell membrane is layered twice over for additional protective purposes. The membrane are made of over 80 percent fat, which means that the foods we consume and the lifestyle we lead have a great deal to do with their composition and functionality.
Consuming the correct amount of fatty acids (particular omega-3s and omega-6s) is crucially important to our daily cell membrane function. Without the proper diet, the composition of the cell membrane could end up being compromised. Considering their vital importance to our bodies, it is in our best interests to learn more about them and take care of them.