1) Bacteria have different cell surface structures including flagella, pili, and fimbriae that vary in thickness, structure, and function. 2) The cell wall lies outside the cell membrane and is composed of peptidoglycan. Peptidoglycan molecules have a backbone, tail, and bridges that crosslink chains. 3) Bacteria are classified as Gram positive or Gram negative based on differences in cell wall structure identified by the Gram stain. Gram positive walls are thicker while Gram negative walls have an outer membrane and periplasmic space.