Common polyunsaturated fatty acids

trivial name systematic name number of carbons in chain typical sources

linoleic acid cis-9-, cis-12-octadecadienoic acid 18 corn oil, animal tissues, bacteria

linolenic acid cis-9-, cis-12-, cis-15-octadecatrienoic acid

5,8,11-eicosatrienoic acid

8,11,14-eicosatrienoic acid

7,10,13-docosatrienoic acid

8,11,14-docosatrienoic acid 18

20

20

22

22

animal tissues

brain tissue

phospholipids

arachidonic acid 5,8,11,14-eicosatetraenoic acid

4,7,10,13-docosatetraenoic acid

4,7,10,13,16,19-docosahexaenoic acid 20

22

22 liver, brain tissue

brain tissue

brain tissue