[Model of an elastic bilayer membrane]

The problem of constructing elastic models of biological and artificial membranes is discussed. Such models take into account strong anisotropy of the membrane elastic properties as well as different types of membrane deformation. It is impossible to describe elastic properties in terms of uniform anistropic models. An inhomogenous elastic layer model with microinhomogenities is proposed, it satisfies the condition E perpendicular less than E parallel less than K where E perpendicular - Young's modulus in the direction normal to the membrane plane, E parallel - Young's modulus in the plane of the membrane, K - volume elasticity modulus. It is shown that usual methods of E perpendicular calculation give the upper limit of true value.