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cell wall vs. cell membrane

cell wall vs. cell membrane: What's the difference?

While every cell has a cell membrane, not every cell has a cell wall. The cell membrane is a living, selectively permeable barrier that encloses the cell substance or cytoplasm. The cell wall is a more rigid, nonliving, permeable outer structure that certain cells, such as plant cells, have to protect the cell membrane.

[sel wawl] / ˈsɛl ˈwɔl /

noun

Biology.
  1. the definite boundary or wall that is part of the outer structure of certain cells, as a plant cell.

[sel mem-breyn] / ˈsɛl ˈmɛm breɪn /

noun

Biology.
  1. the semipermeable membrane enclosing the cytoplasm of a cell.