The fatty acid chains can be saturated, or unsaturated. Some species use three fatty acid chains, but two is most common. The second group, the hydrophobic tail, consists of two fatty acid chains. These groups are polar and are attracted to water. The hydrophilic head consists of a glycerol molecule bound to a phosphate group. Phospholipid StructureĪ phospholipid consists of two basic parts: the head and the tail. This semi-permeable membrane blocks the flow of polar substances, allowing the cell to control the concentration of various substances through the use of protein channels. When the phospholipid molecules are joined by other lipids and integral proteins, the surface can function as a cellular membrane.
A bilayer of phospholipid molecules forms a plasma membrane. A phospholipid is an amphiphilic molecule consisting of a polar head region, a unit of glycerol, and two or more non-polar fatty acid tails, typically found in a cell membrane.
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