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membrane Definition

mem·brane (mem′brān′)

noun

  1. a thin, soft, pliable sheet or layer, especially of animal or vegetable tissue, serving as a covering or lining, as for an organ or cell
  2. any thin, flexible layer or material designed to separate, filter, etc.

Etymology: L membrana, membrane, fine skin, parchment < membrum, member

membrane Related Forms

mem′·braned′ adjective

membrane Synonyms

membrane

n.

layer, sheath, lamina; see film 1.

membrane Usage Examples

Preposition: of

organelle: The various components of the electron transport chain are situated in the inner membrane of this organelle.

Converse of object

inflame: Other triggers cab be changes in host defenses e.g. friction during sexual intercourse inflaming the mucous membranes.

Adjective modifier

  • mucous: In the rest of the bowel the lining is a delicate mucous membrane or mucosa.
  • tympanic: The ear flaps, the tympanic membranes, are the two large ' scales ' just behind the jaw-bone.
  • mitochondrial: Two carrier proteins in the inner mitochondrial membrane are required for this metabolic cycle.
  • basilar: Firstly, to simulate the asymmetry of the hair cell response, the motion of the basilar membrane is half wave rectified.
  • thylakoid: This generates a proton gradient across the thylakoid membrane.
  • permeable: Applied research From the outset we have sought to protect our basic research activity with a " permeable membrane " of applied research.

Modifies a noun

  • protein: In common with many membrane proteins, there are only a few crystal structures for ion channels.
  • lipid: The role of myocardial membrane lipids in the development of cardiac necrosis.
  • vesicle: However, membrane vesicles need not be present at the beginning of translation.
  • transporter: The Center has a major program of structural and functional studies on several classes of membrane proteins, including membrane transporters and ion channels.
  • fusion: There are currently two main models for explaining membrane fusion.
  • oxygenation: UK collaborative randomized trial of neonatal extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

Noun used with modifier

  • plasma: Cell or Plasma membrane The outside wall or coating of the neuron.
  • basement: The basement membrane is an example of extracellular matrix, the subject of the next lecture.
  • mucus: An allergic reaction occurs in the mucus membranes that line the inside of its nasal passages.
  • lipid: Envelope: A lipid membrane enveloping a virus particle.
  • erythrocyte: It reacts by immunoblotting with a component of 30 - 35 kDa in reduced or non - reduced erythrocyte membranes.
  • cell: The cell membrane reforms between the two groups, thus forming two new ' daughter ' cells.