What are the primary components of the fluid mosaic model?

The fluid mosaic model describes the structure of cell membranes, emphasizing its dynamic and flexible nature. At its core, the model highlights that cell membranes are primarily composed of phospholipids which form a bilayer. This bilayer allows the membranes to maintain fluidity, enabling the lipids and embedded proteins to move laterally within the layer.

Embedded throughout this phospholipid bilayer are various proteins that serve multiple functions, such as transport, signaling, and acting as receptors. These proteins can be either integral, spanning the membrane, or peripheral, attached to the surface. This combination of phospholipids and diverse proteins creates a “mosaic” appearance, as the different proteins and lipids contribute to the variety of functions the membrane can perform. Therefore, in the context of cell structure and function, the correct answer accurately captures the essential components that constitute the fluid mosaic model.