Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Biology > Cell Structure and Function > Flashcards

Cell Structure and Function Flashcards

1
Q

Surface Area / Volume Ratio

A
  • a cell increases in volume, the proportionate amount of SA decreases
  • ^ V > v SA ; v V > ^ SA
  • amount of SA affects ability of cell walls to exchange materials into and out of the cell
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

The Cell Theory

A

1- all organisms are composed of 1+ cells
2- are the basic living unit of structure and function in organisms
3- all cells come from preexisting cells (by self-reproduction)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Cell

A
  • The structural & functional unit of an organism
  • the smallest structure capable of performing all the functions necessary for life.
  • the molecules that serve as food or composition of a cell are NOT alive
  • smallest organism: unicellular
  • largest: multicellular
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Unicellular

A

Made of 1 cell

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Multicellular

A

Made up of more than 1 cell

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Prokaryotic Cells

A
  • lack membrane-enclosed structures within them (eg. nucleus); structurally simple
  • metabolically diverse (more than eukaryotes)
  • can synthesize all their structural components from very simple, even inorganic molecules
  • adapted to most types of environments
  • generally exist as unicellular organisms
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Plasma Membrane

A
  • all cells surrounded by plasma membrane made up of a phospholipid bilayer.
  • regulates what enters or exits a cell
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Cytoplasm

A
  • contents of a cell btwn nucleus & plasma membrane
  • contains organelles
  • composed mostly of water, salts, & dissolved organic molecules
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Prokaryotic Cell Wall

A

-located outside of the plasma membrane

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Capsule

A

Gelatinous layer surrounding the cell of algae and certain bacteria that provides further protection for prokaryotes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Slime Layer

A

Gelatinous sheath surrounding certain prokaryotes, sometimes even added on to the capsule

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Flagellum

pl. Flagella

A

Long, slender “tail” used for locomotion by using it like a propeller to move rapidly in fluid mediums

  • enclosing matrix area in 9+2 pattern of microtubule triplets
  • triplets x 3 connected to central OO
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Fimbria

pl. Fimbriae

A

Short hairlike bristles that help prokaryotes to adhere/attach to surfaces

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Nucleoid

A

Region of a prokaryotic cell where the free-floating DNA is located; not bound by a nuclear envelope

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Prokaryotic Ribosome

A

RNA & proteins in 2 subunits; site of protein synthesis in the cytoplasm
-ribosomes of prokaryotes are smaller & structurally different than those in eukaryotic cells

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Eukaryotic Cells

A
  • structurally complex
  • have a nucleus
  • possesses membrane-bound organelles
    eg. animal, plant, fungi, & protists
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Plant Cell Wall(s)

A
  • cells have a permeable but protective cell wall + plasma membrane
  • composition: cellulose fibrils
  • can have 2 cell walls
  • function: support and protect
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Organelles

A
  • found in eukaryotic cells
  • tiny specialized structures that perform specific cellular functions
  • often membranous
  • found in the cytoplasm
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Nucleus

A
  • stores genetic material (DNA)

- composed of: nuclear envelope, nucleolus, nuclear pores, nucleoplasm

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Nuclear Envelope

A
  • continuous double membrane of phospholipids w/polar liquid btwn the layers in order to thicken the envelope btwn polar heads
  • connected to RER
21
Q

Nuclear Pores

A

Pores in the nuclear envelope that allows bidirectional transport of proteins & ribosomal subunits (eg. mRNA)

22
Q

Nucleoplasm

A

Semifluid medium of the nucleus containing chromatin.

23
Q

Nucleolus

pl. Nucleoli

A
  • dark-staining spherical body in the nucleus that produces ribosomal subunits
  • where rRNA is produced
24
Q

DNA

A
  • every cell contains identical sets of DNA

- but in each cell type, certain genes are turned off/on

25
Q

Chromatin

A
  • DNA @ rest
  • DNA lightly wrapped around histones (proteins)
  • G1
26
Q

Chromosomes

A
  • location: nucleoplasm
  • human cells: 46 chromosomes
  • chromatin that is coiled, looped & condensed
  • G2, P, M
27
Q

Ribosomes

A
  • location: individually in cytoplasm (or in groups called polyribosomes) or attached to RER
  • 2 subunits: ‘large’ & ‘small’ (hamburger) complexes of rRNA + protein molecules
  • function: synthesis of proteins using mRNA as a template
28
Q

Vesicles

A
  • small, membrane-bounded sac (phospholipid bilayer) that stores substances within a cell
  • incoming (pinched from plasma membrane + macromolecule)
  • transport (from GA or ER)
  • secretory (from GA)
29
Q

Endoplasmic Reticulum

A

A complicated system of membranous channels + sacs which is the site of protein and lipid production within the cell
-rough ER & smooth ER

30
Q

Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum (RER)

A
  • directly connected to nuclear envelope
  • studded w/ribosomes on outward face
  • proteins synthesized from ribosomes & pass into interior of RER to be processed/modified
  • proteins destined for cell membrane/secretion
31
Q

Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum (SER)

A
  • continuous w/RER; lacks ribosomes
  • synthesizes phospholipids
  • performs variety of other functions depending on the kind of cell it is in
32
Q

Golgi Apparatus

A
  • location: cytoplasm
  • composed: inner half/face toward ER & outer half/face to cell wall
  • collects, sorts, packages/modifies, distribute, makes lysosomes
  • receives proteins from RER w/’zip codes’ to indicate where they should be sent (or if they should be modified)
33
Q

Secretion

A

Release of a substance by exocytosis or ‘steps to secretion’

34
Q

Lysosomes

A
  • membrane-bound vesicles produced by GA w/hydrolytic digestive enzymes already inside
  • hydrolyze incoming/foreign substances
  • autodigestion: when lysosomes digest parts of the cell that are no longer useful
35
Q

Vacuole

A

-membranous sacs that store substances
AC- tiny and filled w/water-based solutions
PC- large central vacuole that lends support to cell wall using turgor pressure
-also contains sugars, salts, pigments, and toxins

36
Q

Peroxisomes

A
  • initially empty membranous sac
  • filled w/enzymes from cytoplasmic ribosomes (transported by carrier proteins) that typically hydrolyze molecules into H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide)
  • catalase (another peroxisomal enzyme) immediately hydrolyzes H2O2 into H2O + O to hydrate body
  • enzyme type + function depends on its location
37
Q

Chloroplast

A
  • site of photosynthesis
  • components: 2 separate bilayers (not touching; phospholipids), stroma, grana, thylakoids
  • contains: own DNA, ribosomes, enzymes
  • can survive on its own as a prokaryote
38
Q

Stroma

A
  • located: inside double membrane of chloroplast

- fluid-filled space that contains single circular DNA + ribosomes

39
Q

Photosynthesis

A

-how plants make their own food using the energy of the sun
-solar energy + H2O + CO2 = carbohydrates + O
PC-can cycle btwn photosynthesis & cellular respiration

40
Q

Intermediate Filaments

A
  • located: inside cytoplasm attached to nucleus
  • support 1) nuclear envelope + 2) plasma membrane
  • cell-cell junctions, such as holding skin cells tightly together
  • “yarn”
41
Q

Cellular Respiration

A
  • metabolic reaction that break down carbohydrates to produce ATP molecules (/fatty acids/amino acid)
  • location: mitochondria
  • carbohydrate + O = CO2 + H2O + store energy (in ATP)
42
Q

Mitochondria

A
  • all eukaryotic cells
  • site of cellular respiration
  • structure: no-contact double membrane, matrix (own DNA, ribosomes, enzymes), crista (inner membrane)
  • can exist independently as a prokaryote
43
Q

Centrosome

A

-Central MTOC of cells

44
Q

Centrioles

A
  • located: in centrosome @ right angles to each other (pair)
  • function: involved in cell division providing tracks for organelles
  • 9+0 pattern of microtubule triplets
  • triplets x 9 connected to central O
45
Q

Cilia

A

-hair-like projections that aid cell movement
EuC-much shorter than flagella
-9+2 pattern of microtubule triplets
-triplets x 9 connected to central OO

46
Q

Crista

pl. Cristae

A

Inner membrane of mitochondria that ‘invaginates’/folds to form finger-like projections to increase SA to accommodate protein complexes & other participants in ATP production

47
Q

Cytoskeleton

A
  • internal framework of a cell, from nucleus to plasma membrane
  • assists in movement of cell & organelles
  • assemble/disassemble as needed
  • types: actin filaments, intermediate filaments, microtubules
48
Q

Actin Filaments

A
  • location: anchored to plasma membrane
  • function: supports the membrane by weaving into a mesh-like structure + movement of cells/organelles
  • “rope”
49
Q

Microtubules

A
  • assembly: under control of Microtubule Organizing Center (MTOC)
  • imp. MTOC: centrosome (center)
  • sends vesicles/organelles on ‘tracks’ to anywhere
  • “thread”

Biology (16 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions