phospholipid
phospholipid
Noun
pl: phospholipids
This term describes a specialized molecule that possesses both a hydrophilic head and hydrophobic tails, creating an amphipathic nature. This dual property allows these molecules to spontaneously organize into bilayers in aqueous environments, forming the essential barrier of all biological cells.
In scientific discourse, the word is used with a neutral, technical connotation. It is almost exclusively confined to biochemistry, cell biology, and medical contexts to describe the chemical architecture of membranes and the transport of substances across them.