These are a type of lipid molecule that is the main component of the cell membrane. They're made up of two fatty acid chains and a phosphate group attached to a glycerol backbone.
Think of phospholipids as the bricks in a wall (cell membrane). Each brick has two parts - one part loves water (hydrophilic head) and the other part hates water (hydrophobic tail). Together, they form a barrier that protects what's inside from what's outside.
Hydrophilic: This term refers to molecules or parts of molecules that love water and can interact with it. The 'head' of a phospholipid is hydrophilic.
Hydrophobic: This term refers to molecules or parts of molecules that repel water. The 'tail' of a phospholipid is hydrophobic.
Lipid Bilayer: This is the basic structure of a biological membrane, composed primarily of phospholipids. It forms when two layers of phospholipids align with their hydrophobic tails facing each other and their hydrophilic heads facing outwards.
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