What is the main component of an animal cell membrane?

The main component of an animal cell membrane is phospholipids. These molecules are crucial because they form a bilayer that serves as the fundamental structure of the membrane. Each phospholipid has a hydrophilic (water-attracting) "head" and two hydrophobic (water-repelling) "tails." This configuration allows phospholipids to arrange themselves in a bilayer, with the tails facing inward away from water and the heads facing outward towards the water inside and outside the cell.

This arrangement is vital for maintaining the integrity of the cell, providing a barrier that regulates the movement of substances in and out of the cell. It also gives the membrane its fluidity, allowing for the mobility of proteins and other molecules embedded within or associated with the membrane. Additionally, while proteins, cholesterol, and carbohydrates play important roles in the functionality and stability of the membrane, the phospholipid bilayer is the essential structural component that defines its basic architecture.