Spingolipids are a class of lipids found in membranes, particularly of nervous tissue. Sphingolipids are derived ultimately from palmitoyl-CoA and serine, as shown in the reaction of Figure 19.13. Ceramides are sphingolipids containing two acyl-moieties. The more complex, carbohydrate-containing sphingolipids, such as the cerebrosides and the gangliosides, are derived from the ceramides. Sphingolipids containing a carbohydrate are called glycosphingolipids.