A community health care worker is explaining to a group of factory workers the importance of wearing gloves when working with strong chemicals such as turpentine and paint thinner. Which of the following characteristics of cell membranes underlies the nurse's teaching?
A) Cell membranes are impermeable to all but lipid-soluble substances.
B) Cell membranes have a hydrophilic head and a hydrophobic tail.
C) Cell membranes contain receptors for hormones and biologically active substances.
D) Transmembrane proteins can pass through the cell membrane into the intracellular environment.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Because cell membranes are soluble to some lipid-soluble substances such as organic solvents, such substances should be kept from direct contact with skin cells. The facts that cell membranes have a hydrophilic head and a hydrophobic tail and contain receptors for hormones and biologically active substances do not have a bearing on the nurse's teaching. While transmembrane proteins can indeed pass into the intracellular environment, the nurse is not referring to proteins in the teaching.

A Community Health Care Worker Is Explaining to a Group