Cell Structure and Function Flashcards
Organelles
An internal functional structure that is located within the cytosol of a cell
Plasma membrane
A dynamic barrier that surrounds the cytosol of the cell
Nuclear envelope
A two-layer membrane that encloses the nucleus of a eukaryotic cell
Endomembrane system
A group of interacting organelles between the nucleus and the plasma membrane
Endoplasmic reticulum (ER)
A membrane-bound organelles that is folded into flattened sacs and tubes. and is often an out growth of the nuclear envelope in a eukaryotic cell
Rough ER
Areas of endoplasmic reticulum with ribosomes attached to the surface
Smooth ER
Areas of the endoplasmic reticulum without attached ribosomes
Vesicle
A small, membrane-bound organelle that may transport, store, or digest substances within a cell
Vacuole
A liquid-filled organelle that stores waste and aids in cellular metabolism and water balance
Lysosome
A small, membrane-bound organelle that contains digestive enzymes that aid in waste disposal
Golgi body
An organelle with folded membranes where the final packaging of protein occurs
Mitochondrion
An organelle with two membranes; the site of most ATP synthesis during aerobic cellular respiration
Plastid
A membrane-bound organelle that is involved in photosynthesis and storage in plants and algae
Chloroplasts
A double-membrane-bound organelle that contains enzymes and pigments that are used to perform photosynthesis in eukaryotic cells
Chromoplast
An organelle that makes and stores pigments other than chlorophyll
Amyloplast
An organelle that stores starch
Cytoskeleton
A dynamic system of filaments that provides cell structure, helps with cell division, and enables the cell and inner organelles to move around
Microfilament
A fibre structure made from actin that is part of the cytoskeleton and is located in the cytosol of cells
Microtubule
A long, hollow cylinder that consists of subunits of the protein tubulin that is part of the cytoskeleton and is located in the cytosol of cells
Flagellum
A whiplike tail that is used in propulsion of both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells
Cilia
Tiny hairlike structures that move water and mucus in eukaryotes; used for movement of prokaryotic cells
Cell wall
The outer barrier of a plant cell; the cell wall surrounds the plasma membrane and gives structure to the plant
Primary wall
A cellulose coating that surrounds a plant cell
Secondary wall
A coating that is added to a plant cell; it is more rigid and often thicker than the primary cell wall
Extracellular matrix (ECM)
A molecular system that supports and protects a cell; a cell’s environment
Cell junction
A structure that allows cells to interact with each other and the surrounding environment
Cytosol
The liquid portion of the cell composed of water, salts, and some macromolecules
Cytoplasm
Refers the the liquid and all the internal components of the cell other than the nucleus
Nucleus
An organelle that contains almost all the DNA in a eukaryotic cell
Nuclelous
A dense, irregularly shaped region where subunits of ribosomes are assembled from proteins and RNA (rounded mass of proteins and copies of genes for ribosomal RNA)
Chromatin
Total collection of all DNA molecules and associated proteins in the nucleus
Nucleoplasm
Semifluid interior portion of the nucleus
Endoplasmic reticulum (ER)
A membrane-bound organelle that is folded into flattened sacs and tubes, and is often an outgrowth of the nuclear envelope in a eukaryotic cell
Rough ER
Areas of endoplasmic reticulum with ribosomes attached to the surface
Smooth ER
Areas of the endoplasmic reticulum without attached ribosomes
Vesicles
A small, membrane-bound organelle that may transport, store, or digest substances within a cell
Peroxisomes
A type of vesicle that contains enzymes that digest fatty acids and amino acids
Vacuoles
A liquid-filled organelle that stores waste and aids in cellular metabolism and water balance
Lysosomes
A small, membrane-bound organelle that contains digestive enzymes that aid in waste disposal
Golgi body
An organelle with folded membranes where the final packaging of protein occurs
Mitochondria
An organelle with two membranes; the site of most ATP synthesis during aerobic cellular respiration
Plastids
A membrane-bound organelle that is involved in photosynthesis and storage in plants and algae
Chloroplast
A double-membrane-bound organelle that contains enzymes and pigments that are used to perform photosynthesis in eukaryotic cells
Chromoplasts
An organelle that makes and stores pigments other than chlorophyll
Amyloplast
An organelle that stores starch
Cytoskeleton
A dynamic system of filaments that provides cell structure, helps with cell division, and enables the cell and inner organelles to move around
Microfilament
A fibre structure made from actin that is a part of the cytoskeleton and is located in the cytosol of cells
Microtubule
A long, hollow cylinder that consists of the subunits of the protein tubulin
Cilia
Tiny hairlike structures that move water and mucus in eukaryotes; used for movement of prokaryotic cells
Flagellum
A whiplike tail that is used in propulsion of both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells
Pseudopods
“False feet” in amoebas and other eukaryotic cells that form temporary lobes that bulge outward, move the cell, and engulf a target all forced by elongated microfilaments to move in a steady direction
Cell wall
The outer barrier of a plant cell; the cell wall surrounds the plasma membrane and gives structure to the plant
Primary wall
A cellulose coating that surrounds a plant cell
Secondary wall
A coating that is added to a plant cell wall; it is more rigid and often thicker than the primary cell wall
Extracellular matrix (ECM)
A molecular system that supports and protects a cell; a cell’s environment
Cell junction
A structure that allows cells to interact with each other and the surrounding environment
Fluid mosaic model
The idea that a biological membrane consists of a fluid phospholipid bilayer, in which proteins are embedded and float freely
Glycolipid
Any membrane lipid that is bound to a carb (play role in cell recognition and interaction between two)
Glycoprotein
A membrane component that contains a sugar or carb bound to an amino acid (play role in cell recognition and interaction between two)
Sterol
A type of steroid with an OH group at one end and a non-polar hydrocarbon chain at the other
Integral membrane protein
A protein that is embedded in the lipid bilayer
Peripheral membrane protein
A protein on the surface of the membrane
Passive transport
The movement of a substance across the membrane without expending energy
Dynamic equilibrium
The state in which continuous action results in balanced conditions
Simple diffusion
The ability of small and non-polar substances to move across a membrane unassisted
Facilitated diffusion
The facilitated transport of ions and polar molecules through a membrane via protein complexes
Transport protein
An integral membrane protein that provides a pathway for molecules to cross a membrane
Channel protein
A hydrophilic pathway in a membrane that enables water and ions to pass through
Carrier protein
A protein that binds to a molecule and transports it across the lipid bilayer
Osmosis
The passive diffusion of water across a membrane
Hypotonic
The property of a solution that has a lower solute concentration than another solution
Hypertonic
The property of a solution that has a higher solute concentration than another solution
Isotonic
The property of a solution that has the same solute concentration as another solution
Active transport
The movement of substances across membranes against their concentration gradient using pumps
Electrochemical gradient
The combined effects of a difference in electrical potential energy and a difference in the concentration gradients of ions
Diffusion
The net movement of a substance from a region of higher concentration to a lower one
Voltage (an electrical potential difference)
A difference in electrical charge one either side of the membrane
Exocytosis
The export of materials involving carrying secretory proteins and some waste materials from the cytosol to the exterior of a cell
Endocytosis
Import such as carrying proteins, larger aggregates of molecules, or even whole cells from the exterior of a cell into the cytosol
Pinocytosis (bulk-phase or cell drinking)
A form of endocytosis in which extracellular water is taken in, along with any molecules in that solution of water
Receptor-mediated
A form of endocytosis in which molecules taken in are bound to the outer cell surface by receptor proteins
Phagocytosis (cell eating)
A form of endocytosis in which cells engulf bacteria, parts of dead cells, viruses, or other foreign particles
