What is the structure and function of a phospholipid?

Phospholipids consist of a hydrophilic (or ‘water loving’) head and a hydrophobic (or ‘water fearing’) tail. Phospholipids like to line up and arrange themselves into two parallel layers, called a phospholipid bilayer. This layer makes up your cell membranes and is critical to a cell’s ability to function.

What is the structure of the phospholipid bilayer?

Phospholipid Bilayer. The phospholipid bilayer consists of two layers of phospholipids, with a hydrophobic, or water-hating, interior and a hydrophilic, or water-loving, exterior. The hydrophilic (polar) head group and hydrophobic tails (fatty acid chains) are depicted in the single phospholipid molecule.

What is the structure of a phospholipid quizlet?

Phospholipids consist of a glycerol molecule, two fatty acids, and a phosphate group that is modified by an alcohol.

How do phospholipids help maintain the structure of cell membranes?

Phospholipid molecules make up the cell membrane and are hydrophilic (attracted to water) as well as hydrophobic (not attracted to water but are attracted to other hydrophobic tails). The phospholipid bilayer makes the membrane very stable but also allows flexibility.

Which is the phospholipid?

Phospholipids, also known as phosphatides, are a class of lipids whose molecule has a hydrophilic “head” containing a phosphate group and two hydrophobic “tails” derived from fatty acids, joined by an alcohol residue (usually a glycerol molecule).

How is the phospholipid arranged in the cell membrane?

The phospholipids in the plasma membrane are arranged in two layers, called a phospholipid bilayer, with a hydrophobic, or water-hating, interior and a hydrophilic, or water-loving, exterior. Each phospholipid molecule has a head and two tails.

Why do phospholipids form a bilayer membrane structure?

Because their fatty acid tails are poorly soluble in water, phospholipids spontaneously form bilayers in aqueous solutions, with the hydrophobic tails buried in the interior of the membrane and the polar head groups exposed on both sides, in contact with water (Figure 2.45).

How can the structure of a phospholipid vary?

Phospholipids vary in the small molecules attached to the phosphate group. The phospholipid shown in the figure has a attached to phosphate. 3. Because the phosphate group and its attachments are either charged or polar, the phospholipid head is , which means it has an affinity for water.

What are the 2 parts of a phospholipid?

Phospholipids consist of two hydrophobic “tails,” which are fatty acid chains, and one hydrophilic “head,” which is phosphate group. They connect with glycerol and the “head” is typically found at the sn-3 position.

How does the structure of phospholipids help the cell membrane?

Phospholipid bilayers are critical components of cell membranes. The lipid bilayer acts as a barrier to the passage of molecules and ions into and out of the cell. These proteins form channels through which certain specific ions and molecules are able to move.

Why the structure of phospholipids are ideal for the structure and function of the cell membrane?

Phospholipids. Phospholipids, arranged in a bilayer, make up the basic fabric of the plasma membrane. They are well-suited for this role because they are amphipathic, meaning that they have both hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions. Chemical structure of a phospholipid, showing the hydrophilic head and hydrophobic tails …