phosphilipid

Term: phospholipid

Literally meaning:

Origin: Anc Greek

φως/phos(=light) > (genitive φωτός/photos=of  light)

+ λίπος/λίπος(=fat, grease) >λίπος > verb λείβω/livo(=grease)

+ίδιο/-idio(=ide, suffix meaning a member or a part of group)

Coined/History

(?)

Definition

Phospholipids are a class of lipids which are consisting of a glycerol bound to two fatty acids (lipophilic) and a polar phosphate group soluble in water (hydrophilic) .Phospolipids are major component of all cell membranes as they can form lipid bilayers.