The cell membrane regulates what enters and exits the cell through selective permeability. It is composed of a phospholipid bilayer with hydrophobic tails facing inward and hydrophilic heads outward. Membrane proteins perform various functions like identification, signaling, catalysis, and transport. Substances move across the membrane through passive diffusion down a concentration gradient or active transport against a gradient using ATP. Water moves through osmosis, entering cells in hypotonic solutions and leaving in hypertonic solutions. Cells specialize and communicate to maintain homeostasis in multicellular organisms.