Chapter 11 Flashcards
amphipathic
Having both hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions, as in a
phospholipid or a detergent molecule
cholesterol
Short, rigid lipid molecule present in large amounts in the
plasma membranes of animal cells, where it makes the lipid
bilayer less flexible
fat droplet
Large cluster of hydrophobic fats or oils that forms inside
the cells.
lipid bilayer
Thin pair of closely juxtaposed sheets, composed mainly of
phospholipid molecules, that forms the structural basis for
all cell membranes.
membrane protein
A protein associated with the lipid bilayer of a cell
membrane.
phosphatidylcholine
Common phospholipid present in abundance in most cell
membranes; uses choline attached to a phosphate as its
head group
phospholipid
A major type of lipid molecule in many cell
membranes. Generally composed of two fatty
acid tails linked to one of a variety of phosphatecontaining polar group
plasma membrane
The protein-containing lipid bilayer that surrounds a living
cell
saturated
Describes an organic molecule that contains a full
complement of hydrogen; in other words, no double or
triple carbon–carbon bonds.
unsaturated
Describes an organic molecule that contains one or more
double or triple bonds between its carbon atoms.