Lipids: Composition, Types, and Biological Roles in Cell Membranes

What elements are all lipids composed of?

Carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.

What are the primary roles of lipids?

They provide long-term energy storage and form part of the structure of cell membranes.

What are the characteristics of lipids in terms of solubility?

Lipids are neutral, non-polar, and fats are insoluble in water.

What are the two different monomers in lipids?

Glycerol and fatty acids.

What is a triglyceride?

A polymer of a lipid consisting of three fatty acid chains bonded to a glycerol.

What defines saturated fatty acids?

They have the maximum number of hydrogen atoms in their hydrocarbon chain.

What are the properties of saturated fats?

They are solids at room temperature, come from animal sources, and release huge amounts of energy when oxidized.

What defines unsaturated fats?

They have fewer than the maximum number of hydrogen atoms due to the presence of double or triple bonds between carbon atoms.

What are the properties of unsaturated fats?

They tend to be liquid at room temperature, are harder to digest than saturated fats, and usually come from plant sources.

What are polyunsaturated fats?

Fats that contain more than one double or triple bond between carbon atoms.

What is the role of phospholipids?

They are an important component of cell membranes.

What role does cholesterol play in the body?

Cholesterol is found in cell membranes and plays a role in the synthesis of hormones.