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Why are phospholipids of the plasma membrane oriented such that their heads are at the membrane surfaces and their tails are buried in the interior of the membrane?

Sagot :

Answer:

The plasma membrane is semi-permeable. The reason for this is because of the orientation of the phospholipids. The heads at the surface are hydrophilic so they face the water. The tails are hydrophobic so they face away from the water.

Explanation:

The phospholipids of the plasma membrane are oriented such that their heads are at the membrane surfaces and their tails are buried in the interior of the membrane - due to the fact that phospholipids have hydrophobic tails and hydrophilic heads.

Phospholipids consist of fatty acids and alcohol in the plasma membrane are arranged in two layers, known as the phospholipid bilayer. It has a hydrophobic or water-hating tail and a hydrophilic or water-loving head.

  • it has a head and two tails.
  • As the tails are hydrophobic so, face the inside, away from the water.
  • As the heads are hydrophilic so face outward
  • Heads are towards intracellular and extracellular fluid.
  • Tails are meet the inner layer

Thus, the correct answer is - due to two layers of hydrophobic tails and hydrophilic heads.

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