The Central Region of the Cell Membrane Is

Question

The central region of the cell membrane is
A) protein and hydrophilic
B) phosphate and hydrophilic
C) phosphate and hydrophobic
D) lipid and hydrophobic
E) lipid and hydrophilic

Accepted Answer

The central region of the cell membrane is composed of lipids, specifically phospholipids, which have hydrophilic (water-loving) heads and hydrophobic (water-fearing) tails. This creates a bilayer with the hydrophilic heads facing outward toward the aqueous environment inside and outside the cell and the hydrophobic tails facing inward toward each other. Therefore, the correct answer is D - lipid and hydrophobic.