Why is the structure of a cell membrane referred to as a bilayer?

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Why is the structure of a cell membrane referred to as a bilayer?

2007-10-18 10:55:02 · 2 answers · asked by nana ♥ 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology

2 answers

The phospholipids arrange themselves in two layers with the lipid tails facing into the middle of the membrane and the phosphate heads facing toward the cytoplasm on one side and toward the environment on the other side. Look at these pictures to see the two layers for yourself.

http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images;_ylt=A0geu6pu2BdHUokAmOxXNyoA?ei=UTF-8&p=phospholipid%20bilayer&fr2=tab-web&fr=ks-ans

2007-10-18 11:04:50 · answer #1 · answered by ecolink 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋

Because it's two layers (of lipids)

2007-10-18 18:01:25 · answer #2 · answered by Tom P 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋