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