We have studied the distribution of phospholipids across the membrane of microsomal vesicles and Golgi-derived secretory vesicles from rat liver by the use of phospholipases. Model studies on single-bilayer phospholipid vesicles showed that phospholipase A2 (phosphatide 2-acyl-hydrolase, EC 3.1.1.4) cleaved at least 80% of the lipids on the outer surface of such vesicles without significant attack on the inner surface. In microsomal vesicles approximately 40% of the outer surface phospholipids were cleaved before the enzyme gained access to the interior of the vesicles. The same conclusion was reached for Golgi vesicles. By following the degradation of the three major phospholipids in intact microsomes and in extracted lipids we found that the same fraction of each of these phospholipids was exposed on the outer surface of the microsomal vesicles. Corresponding experiments with Golgi vesicles showed that distinctly different fractions of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine were present on the surface of these vesicles. However, the difference was accounted for by enrichment of phosphatidylcholine in intravesicular particles rather than by asymmetry across the vesicle membrane. The results from specific hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol confirmed an essentially symmetric distribution of this phospholipid across the microsomal and the Golgi vesicle membranes.