How are the phospholipid molecueles related to the plasma membrane?

Answer 1

on a per weight basis, membranesare about half phospholipid and half protein. I like to think of a membrane as a "sea" of phospholipids with icebergs (proteins).

Answer 2

Phospholipids make up the plasma membrane. The phospholipids look kind of like a layer of tennis balls floating in a pool. The yellow balls are the phosphate heads and dangling below are 2 lipid legs. Below that is another layer of phospholipids with the "legs" up and the "heads" down:

OOOO <=== phosphate heads
ll ll ll ll <=== lipid legs

ll ll ll ll
OOOO

This forms a layer because the "legs" hate water and the "heads" love water. You got water in a cell and water outside of a cell, and these phospholipid molecules arrange themselves accordingly.
Now, floating between these tennis balls are proteins which have a couple of different jobs. Some act as doors (if you fit you can get in), pumps (can pile up substances on one side of the membrane) or identification tags (helps organisms identify invading foreigners like germs).
This is all very flexible and semipermeable. Look up "Fluid Mosaic Model". Good luck!

Answer 3

Phospholipids are a class of lipids formed from four components: fatty acids, a negatively-charged phosphate group, nitrogen containing alcohol and a backbone. Phospholipids with a glycerol backbone are known as glycerophospholipids or phosphoglycerides. There is only one type of phospholipid with a sphingosine backbone; sphingomyelin. Phospholipids are a major component of all biological plasma membranes, along with glycolipids and cholesterol.

Answer 4

The plasma membrane is composed of a double layer of phospholipids, with their polar (hidrophilic) ends facing the intra and extracellular mediums and their hydrophobic ends facing each other on the inside of the membrane. Embedded on this double layer and having a variety of chemical compositions, structures and functions are also many proteins and protein-related molecules.