The hydrophobic tails of a phospholipid bilayer are oriented toward the
A) both the extracellular fluid and cytoplasm.
B) interstitial fluid.
C) cytoplasm of the cell.
D) interior of the plasma membrane (i.e., toward one another).
E) extracellular fluid surrounding the cell.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The hydrophobic tails of phospholipids in a bilayer are oriented toward the interior of the plasma membrane, away from water, which is found both outside the cell (extracellular fluid) and inside the cell (cytoplasm). This orientation is due to the hydrophobic nature of the tails, which avoid water.

The Hydrophobic Tails of a Phospholipid Bilayer Are Oriented Toward