Illustrated Glossary of Organic Chemistry

Phospholipid: A glycerol triester in which the secondary alcohol and one of the primary alcohols has been esterified with fatty acids and the other primary alcohol has been esterified with a phosphate group. The phosphate group is usually bonded to another simple molecule such as choline. Sphingolipids, based on sphingosine instead of glycerol, are also phospholipids.

A phosphatidyl choline, a phospholipid in which the phosphate group is bonded to choline.


A phosphatidic acid, a phospholipid in which the phosphate group is bonded only to glycerol.


Sphingomyelin, a typical sphingolipid.