What is the fluid mosaic model?

Question

trancenova · Answer

In very basic terms the fluid mosaic model is a generalisation about cell membranes saying that they act like "a two-dimensional oriented solution of integral proteins". You can access their original paper here: http://nfs.unipv.it/nfs/minf/dispense/MEDENG/Singer%20Nicholson.pdf

andrew314 · Answer

Like the person above me says, it's a model for cellular membranes. 

Essentially it says two things: 
The cell membrane is mosaic: There are proteins in the cellular membrane, and they go through the entire phospholipid membrane.

The cell membrane is fluid: The proteins in the membrane are not stationary; they can move.