Conversation so far:
Describe cell membranes.
The cell membrane (also known as the plasma membrane (PM) or cytoplasmic membrane, and historically referred to as the plasmalemma) is a biological membrane that separates the interior of all cells from the outside environment (the extracellular space) which protects the cell from its environment.
What are the important functions of a cell membrane?
The primary function of the plasma membrane is to protect the cell from its surroundings. Composed of a phospholipid bilayer with embedded proteins, the plasma membrane is selectively permeable to ions and organic molecules and regulates the movement of substances in and out of cells.
Tell me about the phospholipid bilayer.
The lipid bilayer is a thin polar membrane made of two layers of lipid molecules. These membranes are flat sheets that form a continuous barrier around all cells.
What are the functions of a phospholipid bilayer?
The phospholipid bilayer readily allows essential molecules such as water, oxygen and carbon dioxide to cross the membrane, but very large molecules cannot enter the cell in this way or may not be able to at all.

Question: What if the membrane gets damaged?
Self-contained rewrite: What if the cell membrane gets damaged?