GENERAL HISTOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Phospholipids are molecules that form the cell membrane. They consist of a polar phosphate head group and two nonpolar fatty acid tails joined by a glycerol backbone. The phosphate group can link with different molecules, such as serine or choline, to generate diverse kinds of phospholipids.

Detailed explanation-2: -The main component of the cell membrane is a phospholipid bi-layer or sandwich. The heads (the phospho part) are polar while the tails (the lipid part) are non-polar.

Detailed explanation-3: -Phospholipids can be described as amphipathic ("amphi” means “both"), because they have this dual nature (part polar and part non-polar). This characteristic causes phospholipids to self-associate into large macromolecular complexes in an aqueous (watery) environment.

Detailed explanation-4: -The “head” of the molecule contains the phosphate group and is hydrophilic, meaning that it will dissolve in water. The “tail” of the molecule is made up of two fatty acids, which are hydrophobic and do not dissolve in water.

Detailed explanation-5: -Each phospholipid is amphipathic, with two hydrophobic tails and a hydrophilic head. The hydrophobic tails face inward towards one another, and the hydrophilic heads face outwards.