The cell membrane is composed of a lipid bilayer with embedded proteins. It separates the interior of the cell from the external environment. The major components of the cell membrane are lipids and proteins. Phospholipids form the lipid bilayer, with their hydrophobic tails facing each other and hydrophilic heads facing outwards. This arrangement forms a selectively permeable barrier. Membrane proteins are embedded in the lipid bilayer and perform functions like transport, signaling and enzymatic activity. The fluid mosaic model describes the cell membrane as a fluid structure with proteins scattered within the phospholipid bilayer. The cell membrane regulates what enters and exits the cell and also performs other roles like cell adhesion and protection.