Cell Membrane (plasma membrane) Copy right g The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduct on or display. TABLE 3-1 Functions of Cell Membranes 1. Regulate the passage of substances into and out of cells and between cell organelles and cytosol 2. Detect chemical messengers arriving at the cell surface 3. Link adjacent cells together by membrane junctions 4. Anchor cells to the extracellular matrixCell Membrane (plasma membrane)