 Page 654 Based on biochemical function, lipids are

 A lipid is an organic compound found in divided into five categories:

living organisms that is insoluble (or
1. Energy-storage lipids (triacylglycerols)
only sparingly soluble) in water but
2. Membrane lipids (phospholipids,
soluble in nonpolar organic solvents.
sphingoglycolipids, and cholesterol)
3. Emulsification lipids (bile acids)
4. Messenger lipids (steroid hormones and
eicosanoids)
5. Protective-coating lipids (biological
waxes)

Based upon whether or not saponification

occurs when a lipid is placed in basic
aqueous solution, lipids are divided into two
categories:

1. Saponifiable lipids (triacylglycerols,

phospholipids, sphingoglycolipids, and
biological waxes)
 Lipids known as fats provide a major
way of storing chemical energy and 2. Nonsaponifiable lipids (cholesterol,
carbon atoms in the body. Fats also steroid hormones, bile acids, and
surround and insulate vital body organs, eicosanoids)
providing protection from mechanical
shock and preventing excessive loss of
heat energy. Phospholipids, glycolipids,
and cholesterol (a lipid) are the basic
components of cell membranes. Several
cholesterol derivatives function as
chemical messengers (hormones)
within the body.
 Two common methods exist for
subclassifying lipids into families for the
purpose of study. One method uses the
biochemical function of a lipid as the
basis for classification, and the other
method is based on whether or not a
lipid can be broken down into smaller
units through basic hydrolysis, that is,
reaction with water under basic
conditions. A hydrolysis reaction that
occurs in basic solution is called a
saponification reaction.