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Cell Membrane Lipid Bilayer

Cell Membrane Lipid Bilayer

Author: Scott A. Sheffield MS

Last update: Sep 28th, 2022

The framework of a neuron cell membrane is formed by a dorsal lipid bilayer consisting of two opposing rows of phospholipid molecules.

An image showing a neuron with it's axon

An image showing the lipid bilayer of the axon of neuron cell, which consists of (outer and inner) layers

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Each phospholipid has at its core a 3-carbon molecule called glycerol.

An image showing the bilayer phospholipid of the cell membrane

An image showing the Glycerol of bilayer phospholipid of the cell membrane

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Two fatty acids tails extend from one side of the glycerol and a phosphate group is attached to the other side.

An image showing the Glycerol of bilayer phospholipid of the cell membrane

An image showing the Fatty acids of the tail and Glycerol of bilayer phospholipid of the cell membrane

An image showing the Phosphate group, Fatty acids of the tail and Glycerol of bilayer phospholipid of the cell membrane

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A nitrogenous chemical group, such as choline (shown here), typically attaches to the phosphate group.

An image showing the Fatty acids of the tail and Glycerol of bilayer phospholipid of the cell membrane

An image showing the Nitrogenous chemical group, Phosphate group, Fatty acids of the tail and Glycerol of bilayer phospholipid of the cell membrane

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Phospholipids are amphiphilic or amphipathic molecules (having two different affinities; amphi: on both sides; philic: loving; pathic: suffering or disease).
The heads are charged or polar (hydrophilic; attracted to water) because both the phosphate group and the chemical group attached it have an imbalance of associated electrons.

Phew, lots of information to take in! Why not try testing your knowledge using the active recall technique?

An image showing the Nitrogenous chemical group, Phosphate group, Fatty acids of the tail and Glycerol of bilayer phospholipid of the cell membrane

An image showing the head positive charge, Nitrogenous chemical group, Phosphate group, Fatty acids of the tail and Glycerol of bilayer phospholipid of the cell membrane

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The tails are neutral or nonpolar (hydrophobic; repelled by water), Here the carbon and hydrogen atoms are linked by covalent bonds, where the electrons are shared equally between adjacent atoms.

An image showing the head positive charge, Nitrogenous chemical group, Phosphate group, Fatty acids of the tail and Glycerol of bilayer phospholipid of the cell membrane

An image showing the Neutral tail, head positive charge, Nitrogenous chemical group, Phosphate group, Fatty acids of the tail and Glycerol of bilayer phospholipid of the cell membrane

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Overview:

Test yourself image showing the Neutral tail, head positive charge, Nitrogenous chemical group, Phosphate group, Fatty acids of the tail and Glycerol of bilayer phospholipid of the cell membrane,, all labeled without answers

Test yourself image showing the Neutral tail, head positive charge, Nitrogenous chemical group, Phosphate group, Fatty acids of the tail and Glycerol of bilayer phospholipid of the cell membrane,, all labeled with answers below

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