Phospholipid

Definition

A phospholipid is a type of lipid molecule that forms the basic structure of cell membranes. It consists of a hydrophilic (water-loving) head and a hydrophobic (water-fearing) tail.

Related terms

Hydrophilic:

Refers to substances that have an attraction or affinity towards water.

Hydrophobic:

Describes substances that repel or are not attracted to water.

Saturated: A term used to describe fatty acids that contain only single bonds between carbon atoms, resulting in a straight shape and maximum number of hydrogen atoms bonded to them.