They are found in brain and myelin sheaths of nerves. They are also known as galactolipids because of their galactose content. They are composed of fatty acid of high molecular weight, sphingosine, and galactose.

Its structure is as follows:

Four cerebrosides have been identified, according to their fatty acid component. They are as follows:

• Kerasin, containing lingoceric acid,
• Cerebron, containing cerebronic acid,
• Nervon, containing nervonic acid
• Oxynervon, containing oxynervonic acid