1.3 - Membrane structure - Key terms

Question	Answer
Phospholipid	A lipid with a phosphate group in its hydrophilic head. The main constituent of cell membranes.
Phospholipid bilayer	A double layer of phospholipids that makes up cell membranes.
Cholesterol	A steroid that forms an essential component of animal cell membranes.
Permeability	The ability of a membrane to let things in and out.
Fluid mosaic model (Singer-Nicholson)	A model of cell membranes in which proteins are embedded in a phospholipid bilayer.
Davson-Danielli model	A model of cell membranes in which the phospholibid bilayer is covered in a layer of protein.
Amphipathic	Having both a hydrophilic region and a hydrophobic region.
Hydrophilic	Water-loving; polar molecules (or sections of molecules) that are soluble in water.
Hydrophobic	Water-fearing; non-polar molecules (or sections of molecules) that are not soluble in water.
Glycoprotein	A protein with one or more carbohydrates attached.

Resource summary

	Created by Ella-mentary over 8 years ago