Phospholipids make up the vast majority of the cell membrane surrounding the cells in your body. They are important because the structure of the phosphlipids in the membranes allow for things to diffuse into the cells, without substances diffusing out of them.
Phospholipids refer to a kind of lipids, which are a main part of all biological membranes. They are important because they help in transportation of materials into living organisms.
Membrane is an important part of a cell. It protects a cell and its organelles from foreign particles and the exterior conditions. The organelles in a cell are also covered with a membrane. But, each and every cell membrane has different characteristics and thus performs different functions in various parts in the body. These characteristics depend upon the lipid and protein composition of a membrane.
The cell membrane is seen as lipid bi-layer in microscopic view. The phospholipids structure is made up of two parts: the head and the tails. The heads face outside and the tails form the inner layer. The head is a polar hydrophilic portion and begins with NH3 (Ammonia group). The tails are hydrophobic and non-polar. One tail is a saturated fatty acid chain and the other tail is an unsaturated fatty acid chain. Thus, the second chain is a bit kinked. This structure helps the movement or flexibility of the membrane. It also prevents the freezing of the bi-layer.
Phospholids play a big part in biological membranes. Other major components are glycolids and cholesterol. Phospholids is a type of Lipid. Lipids are otherwise known as fats. They are fuel of the body and thus very important. As far as importance in membrane formation it's all a bit complex for me to understand.
Phospholipids are lipids that are basically a fatty acid with a phosphate group. Like fatty acids, they do not dissolve in water. The tail of a phospholipid is hydrophobic but the head of the molecule is hydrophilic. One end 'hates' water while the other end 'loves' water.
This contrast results in the molecules lining up with each other to form phospholipid bilayers. Their tails are on the inside of the layer, so can keep away from water, and the heads are on the outside, in contact with the water inside and outside the cell. This double membrane is a feature of every living cell, whether plant or animal.
Phospholipids can also form bilayered lipid vesicles inside the cell – these are lysosomes when they contain lytic enzymes and other types of vesicle when they have other contents. Cell membranes have proteins and proteins attached to sugar molecules embedded in the phospholipid bilayer.
