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 a phospholipid molecule quizlet?

A phospholipid consists of 1) a polar (hydrophilic) phosphate group head, 2) a glycerol molecule, and 3) 2 non-polar (hydrophobic) fatty acid tails.

What is the structure of a phospholipid in the cell membrane?

A phospholipid is a lipid made of glycerol, two fatty acid tails, and a phosphate-linked head group. Biological membranes usually involve two layers of phospholipids with their tails pointing inward, an arrangement called a phospholipid bilayer.

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 three parts of a phospholipid molecule quizlet?

What are the components of a phospholipid molecule? a glycerol molecule, two fatty acids and a phosphate group, modified by an alcohol.

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 …

Why do phospholipids organize into a bilayer?

The Bilayer The phospholipids organize themselves in a bilayer to hide their hydrophobic tail regions and expose the hydrophilic regions to water. This organization is spontaneous, meaning it is a natural process and does not require energy.

What are the structure of plasma membrane?

Like all other cellular membranes, the plasma membrane consists of both lipids and proteins. The fundamental structure of the membrane is the phospholipid bilayer, which forms a stable barrier between two aqueous compartments.

Which structures have a phospholipid bilayer?

The nucleus, mitochondria and chloroplasts have two lipid bilayers, while other sub-cellular structures are surrounded by a single lipid bilayer (such as the plasma membrane, endoplasmic reticula, Golgi apparatus and lysosomes).

How are the phospholipid molecules arranged in a cell membrane?

The phospholipids in the cell membrane are arranged in two layers, called a phospholipid bilayer. The water-hating tails are on the interior of the membrane, whereas the water-loving heads point outwards, toward either the cytoplasm or the fluid that surrounds the cell.

What are the key structural features that comprise phospholipids quizlet?

Phospholipids are amphipathic molecules that make up the bilayer of the plasma membrane and keep the membrane fluid. The phosphate group is the negatively-charged polar head, which is hydrophilic. Since the heads are hydrophilic, they face outward and are attracted to the intracellular and extracellular fluid.