Final answer:
Sphingolipids have a sphingosine backbone and usually a single fatty acid(b), while (c) glycerophospholipids have a glycerol backbone with two fatty acids and a modified phosphate group. Sphingolipids are not exclusive to the mitochondrial membrane and glycerophospholipids are not confined to the endoplasmic reticulum.
Step-by-step explanation:
The major distinctions between sphingolipids and glycerophospholipids are based on their structural compositions and locations within cellular membranes.(C) Glycerophospholipids have a glycerol backbone bonded to two fatty acid chains and a phosphate group, which is further modified by an alcohol, such as choline in the case of phosphatidylcholine. By contrast, sphingolipids include an amino alcohol backbone called sphingosine(b), to which a single fatty acid chain is attached, forming a structure known as ceramide. This ceramide can be bound to a phosphate group (in sphingomyelin) or a carbohydrate (in glycolipids).
The statement regarding the exclusive location of sphingolipids in the mitochondrial membrane is incorrect, as sphingolipids are found in various cellular membranes, including the plasma membrane. Moreover, glycerophospholipids are also widely distributed in cellular membranes, not just the endoplasmic reticulum.