Phospholipid Bilayer Diagram Quiz

Questions and Answers

What is a phospholipid composed of?

A hydrophobic tail and a hydrophilic head.

Which statement is true about hydrophilic heads?

They have a positive charge and repel water.

They are found on the inner layer of the membrane.

They are nonpolar.

They have a negative charge and attract water. (correct)

What characterizes hydrophobic tails?

Fatty acids are nonpolar and hydrophobic.

What role does cholesterol play in the membrane?

It maintains fluidity of the membrane and prevents nonpolar fatty acid tails from sticking together even in cold temperatures. Signup and view all the answers

What are peripheral proteins?

Proteins on the surface of the membrane. Signup and view all the answers

What are integral proteins?

Proteins that span the entire membrane which includes transport proteins. Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of glycoproteins?

Carbohydrate chain for identification purposes. Signup and view all the answers

_________ of the cytoskeleton provide structural support inside the cell.

Filaments Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Phospholipid Bilayer Components

Phospholipids consist of a hydrophobic tail (fatty acids) and a hydrophilic head (phosphate group).
Hydrophilic heads have a negative charge, allowing them to attract and interact with water molecules.
Hydrophobic tails are nonpolar, making them repellent to water and promoting bilayer formation.

Membrane Stability and Function

Cholesterol is integrated within the bilayer, ensuring membrane fluidity and preventing the fatty acid tails from clumping together, particularly in colder temperatures.
Peripheral proteins are located on the exterior or interior surfaces of the membrane, playing roles in signaling and structural support.
Filaments of the cytoskeleton provide structural support to the cell and maintain the shape of the plasma membrane.

Protein Types in the Bilayer

Integral proteins span the entire membrane, facilitating various functions including transport across the bilayer.
Glycoproteins consist of a carbohydrate chain attached to a protein, serving as identification markers for cell recognition and signaling.

Description

Test your knowledge of the phospholipid bilayer anatomy with this interactive quiz. Learn about the key components such as hydrophilic heads, hydrophobic tails, and cholesterol functionality. Perfect for biology students looking to reinforce their understanding of cell membrane structures.