Cerebrosides are also known as galactose lipids because of their galactose content. They have no phosphoric acid group. They are compounds of fatty acid of high molecular weight, sphingosine and galactose.

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

• Kerasin contains lignoceric acid
• Cerebron contains cerebronic acid
• Neuron contains neuronic acid
• Oxynervon contains oxynervonic acid