Phosphoplipids are very similar to triglycerides in that both molecules are triesters of glycerol. However one of the fatty carboxylate groups is replace with a phosphate group. Because the nature of the phosphate group is zwiterionic meaning it contains both a positive and negative charge throughough the molecule to yield a net charge of 0 overall (there is a negative charge on phosphate group and a positive charge on an amine salt further down the fatty chain. It is this zwitterionic sextion of the molecule that gives rise to the molecule's "polar head". The two fatty esters comprise the two tails.
The head (or top) of a phospholipid is polar and the carbon chain tail is non-polar.
The bend in the fatty acid tail of a phospholipid molecule is due to the presence of double bonds in the carbon chain. These unsaturated fatty acids cause a kink or bend in the tail, affecting the fluidity and packing of phospholipid molecules in the cell membrane.
This is called the hydrophobic 'side' of the phospholipid molecule
The hydrophobic portion of the phospholipid molecule is the fatty acid tails. These tails consist of long hydrocarbon chains that do not interact well with water molecules, making them nonpolar and hydrophobic.
The head of a phospholipid can be described as hydrophilic, meaning that it is attracted to water. This portion of the molecule tends to interact with water molecules, while the tail portion of a phospholipid is hydrophobic and repels water.
The tail of a phospholipid molecule is hydrophobic, while the head is hydrophilic.
The head and tail is a phospholipid molecule
This is called the hydrophobic 'side' of the phospholipid molecule
This is called the hydrophobic 'side' of the phospholipid molecule
This is called the hydrophobic 'side' of the phospholipid molecule
Head and hydrophobic tail
The head (or top) of a phospholipid is polar and the carbon chain tail is non-polar.
Head and hydrophobic tail
Head and hydrophobic tail
Head and hydrophobic tail
The bend in the fatty acid tail of a phospholipid molecule is due to the presence of double bonds in the carbon chain. These unsaturated fatty acids cause a kink or bend in the tail, affecting the fluidity and packing of phospholipid molecules in the cell membrane.
It is often called the cell membrane because it is made up of phospholipid bilayers. It is also often called the plasma membrane. Each phospholipid joins together at the hydrophilic head, leaving the hydrophobic tail on the inside, and forming a bilayer.