cytomembrane

the protoplasmic boundary of all cells that controls permeability and may serve other functions through surface specializations, for example, active ion transport absorption by formation of pinocytotic vesicles or receptor-mediated antigen recognition; its fine structure is trilaminar and consists of the electron-dense lamina externa and lamina interna with an electron-lucent lamina intermedia.

Synonym(s): cytolemma, cytomembrane, plasma membrane, plasmalemma, plasmolemma, Wachendorf membrane (2)