The hydrophobic portions of a membrane's phospholipid bilayer are oriented toward the interior of the membrane and pointed away from aqueous environments.

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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This is because the hydrophobic portions of phospholipids are nonpolar and therefore repel water, while the hydrophilic portions are polar and interact with water. Thus, they arrange themselves such that the hydrophobic tails are shielded from the aqueous environment by the hydrophilic heads. This forms a stable barrier that enables the cell to maintain its internal environment while communicating with the external environment.

The Hydrophobic Portions of a Membrane's Phospholipid Bilayer Are Oriented