asked 4.3k views
3 votes
Movements that keep the phospholipid fatty acyl tail within the _____ region of the bilayer are energetically favorable.

A) Hydrophilic
B) Hydrophobic
C) Intracellular
D) Extracellular

asked
User Merad
by
7.8k points

1 Answer

3 votes

Final answer:

The phospholipid fatty acyl tails are energetically favored to be within the hydrophobic region of the bilayer, as phospholipids have hydrophilic heads that face the watery environments outside and inside the cell, with hydrophobic tails facing inward.

Step-by-step explanation:

Movements that keep the phospholipid fatty acyl tail within the hydrophobic region of the bilayer are energetically favorable. This is because phospholipids are a key component of the cell membrane, consisting of a hydrophilic head that is attracted to water and hydrophobic tails that repel water. Within the cell membrane, the hydrophilic heads face outward toward the aqueous environments of the extracellular fluid (ECF) and intracellular fluid (ICF), while the hydrophobic tails face inward, away from water, forming the interior of the phospholipid bilayer. This structure is critical for the membrane's function, contributing to its fluidity and permeability, allowing it to effectively separate and protect the cellular interior from the external environment.

answered
User Oana Andone
by
7.7k points
Welcome to Qamnty — a place to ask, share, and grow together. Join our community and get real answers from real people.