Which one of the following statements is correct about the cell membrane ?

The cell membrane, or plasma membrane, is a highly flexible and pliable structure composed primarily of a phospholipid bilayer and proteins. This flexibility is a critical property that allows the cell to change shape and perform endocytosis, a process where the membrane folds inward to engulf extracellular materials like food particles or liquids into vesicles [2]. Unlike the cell wall found in plants and fungi, which is made of cellulose or chitin and provides rigidity [2], the cell membrane is selectively permeable rather than fully permeable [1]. It regulates the entry and exit of specific substances, allowing small nonpolar molecules like oxygen and carbon dioxide to pass through via simple diffusion. Therefore, the statement regarding its flexibility and ability to engulf materials is the only correct description among the options provided.

Sources

1. [2] Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 2: The Invisible Living World: Beyond Our Naked Eye > 2.5 Why Is Cell Considered to Be a Basic Unit of Life? > p. 24
2. [1] Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 2: The Invisible Living World: Beyond Our Naked Eye > Activity 2.3: Let us investigate > p. 12