Cellular Integrity
The plasma membrane (lipid bilayer) is the part of the cell that regulates the entry and exit of certain molecules. If the integrity of the membrane is lost, certain things that should not be getting in get in, and certain things that should not leave are leaking out. A membrane that has lost integrity no longer can withstand the osmotic forces and it must be degraded. Apoptosis is the process of cell suicide, the instructions for the process are coded in the DNA of the individual cell.
Ions
Ionic compounds exist as crystals rather than molecules, and are dissolved in the fluids of the human body creating cell salts. The ionic bonds help to create cell salts, which give strength to the tissues of the human body, increasing Cellular Integrity. Each ion has its own properties and rules, which perform specific body movements, which are a result of the function of these Ions or cell salts. Ionic compounds that break down when dissolved in water are called electrolytes. Electrolytes are strongly conductive and have important functions in the body.[1]
Cell Membranes
The cell membrane (also known as the plasma membrane or cytoplasmic membrane) is a biological membrane that separates the interior of all cells from the outside environment. The cell membrane is selectively permeable to ions and organic molecules and controls the movement of substances in and out of cells. The basic function of the cell membrane is to protect the cell from its surroundings. It consists of the phospholipid bilayer with embedded proteins. [2]