Cells Flashcards
Acrosome
part of the sperm cell that contains digestive enzymes for breaking down outer layers of the egg
Actin
a protein that, together with myosin, forms the contractile filaments of muscle cells, and is also involved in motion in other types of cell
Actin-Myosin Bundle
a bundle of actin and myosin proteins found on smooth muscle cells that form the contractile filaments in muscle cells
Apical Meristem
growth region in plants found within root tips and the tips of new shoots and leaves
Axon Collateral
a branch of the main axon that feeds back to the soma
Axon Hillock
joins the soma to the axon in the neurone
Biconcave
something that curves in in two places
Cell
the building block of life, all living things are made up of one or more cells, e.g. white blood cells
Cell Body
the spherical part of the neurone that contains the nucleus
Cell Capsule
an envelope around the cell wall found in some bacteria cells
Cell Cycle
the life cycle of a cell
Cell Division
when cells divide, they copy their DNA so that each new cell has the same genetic information. Cells divide for growth, repair and to specialise
Cell Equator
centre of the cell, where chromosomes line up during mitosis
Cell Membrane
controls what enters and leaves the cell
Cell Pole
where chromosomes migrate to during mitosis
Cellulose
an insoluble structure that supports cell walls
Cell Wall
helps provide strength and structure to the cell
Chloroplasts
perform photosynthesis in plant cells
Companion Cell
a cell that helps transport substances through the sieve cells of the phloem
Concave
something that curves inwards
Cytoplasm
the fluid part of the cell where many reactions happen
Dense Bodies
areas of electron density on smooth muscle cells
Differentiation
the process for making specialised cells
Diffusion
the spreading out of particles resulting in a net movement from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration
Electron Microscope
invented in the 1930s, these microscopes use beams of electrons to magnify things up to 2 million times, but are far more expensive and difficult to use than light microscopes, and only magnify dead things
Scanning Electron Microscope
have a lower magnification than transmission electron microscopes but can produce 3D images
Transmission Electron Microscope
have a higher magnification than scanning electron microscopes but only produce 2D images
Embryonic Stem Cell
makes all types of stem cells in the body
Eukaryote
cells such as fungi, plant and animal cells, which have a nucleus
Flagellum
a small thread-like structure that helps cells to swim
Gamete
a sex cell
Inoculating Loop
a simple tool used mainly by microbiologists to pick up and transfer a small sample of microorganisms from a microbial culture for streaking on a culture plate
Light Microscope
microscopes that use light sources to magnify things up to 2000 times, can magnify alive and dead things, far cheaper and easier to use than electron microscopes
Lignin Spiral
helps support tissues in plants
Magnification
the measure of how much bigger the image is than the object
magnification = size of image / size of object
Microscopy
use of a microscope
Middle Section
part of a sperm cell that contains mitochondria to make it move
Mitochondria
perform aerobic respiration, providing the cell with energy
Mitochondrial Eve
the name given to the most recent common female ancestor of all humans, who lived around 200000 years ago
Mitosis
the process of cell division
Multipotent
stem cells that have the ability to make some types of specialised cells
Murein
what the cell wall is made of
Myosin
a fibrous protein that, together with actin, forms the contractile filaments of muscle cells and is also involved in motion in other types of cell
Node of Ranvier
spaces between the myelin coating on the neurone’s axon
Nuclear Membrane
membrane of the nucleus
Nucleus
contains a cell’s DNA and genetic information
Organ
structure made up of more than one tissue, i.e. heart contains muscle, nerve, fat and connective tissue
Organelle
small component found inside a cell, eg nucleus
Organism
individual living being, eg blue whale
Organ System
group of organs that work together, eg digestive system
Parent Cell
cell that splits during mitosis
Palisade Cell
plant cells packed with chloroplasts to perform photosynthesis
Phagocytosis
the process by which a cell engulfs a particle and digests it
Phloem
cells which transport sugars produced in the leaves up and down the stem to growing and storage issues
Phloem Vessel
tissue made up of phloem cells
Pili
short curled hairs on the surface of certain bacteria that are involved in the attachment of the bacteria to other cells
Plasmids
small loops of DNA
Plasma Membrane
a microscopic membrane of lipids and proteins which forms the external boundary of the cytoplasm of a cell or encloses a vacuole, and regulates the passage of molecules in and out of the cytoplasm
Pluripotent
stem cells that have the ability to make all types of specialised cells
Prokaryotes
bacteria cells which don’t have a nucleus, only a big loop of DNA and a cell wall made of slime
Protists
a form of single-cell eukaryotes
Red Blood Cell
cells containing haemoglobin for carrying oxygen, which have no mitochondria or nucleus, and are thin in the middle so oxygen can easily get to it
Replication
when cells split, creating duplicate cells from one parent cell
Resolution
the ability to distinguish between two separate points under a microscope
Resolving Power
how much detail a microscope can show
Ribosome
synthesises proteins
Root Cap
mass of cells covering the growth tip of a plant
Root Hair Cell
helps to absorb water and minerals from the soil by increasing the surface area of the root
Sieve Plate
secretes proteins through the sieve tube
Sieve Tube
transports sugars through the phloem
Slime Wall
protects the cell wall
Soma
spherical part of the neurone that contains the nucleus
Specialised Cells
cells adapted to do a certain job
Specialism
specific job of a specific cell
Sperm Cell
contain half the DNA needed to make a baby, the smallest animal cells
Stem Cells
unspecialised cells that can be used to make specialised cells
Tail
part of a sperm that helps it swim towards the egg
Terminal Buttons
found at the end of dendrites, responsible for passing electrical signals on to other neurones
Therapeutic Cloning
a procedure that involves produce an embryo with the same genes as the patient’s so that they are not rejected by the patient’s body
Tissue
a group of similar cells, eg muscle epithelial cell
Tissue Stem Cell
makes a few types of specialised cells
Vacuole
permanent part of the cells that gives it structure, made of cell sap
Vascular Bundle
xylem and phloem together
Xylem
cells which transport water and minerals up from the stem from the shoots and leaves, which occurs in one direction only
Zone of Cell Division
also known as the zone of maturation, where cells differentiate into different type so cells
Zone of Differentiation
the epidermis of the root hair cell
Zone of Elongation
part of the root hair cell that grows longer to allow roots to grow deeper into the soil
Zygote
a single new cell
