cells Flashcards
cell
In biology, the smallest unit that can perform all life processes.
nucleus
in a eukaryotic cell, a membrane-bound organelle that contains the cell’s dna and that has a role in processes such as growth, metabolism, and reproduction.
cytoplasm
the material or protoplasm within a living cell, excluding the nucleus.
cell membrane
a phospholipid layer that covers a cell’s surface and acts as a barrier between the inside of a cell and the cell’s environment.
cell wall
a rigid structure that surrounds the cell membrane and provides support to the cell.
mitochondria
in eukaryotic cells, the cell organelle that is surrounded by two membranes
chloroplast
a green pigment that captures light energy for photosynthesis.
golgi complex
cell organelle that helps make and package materials to be transported out of the cell.
endoplasmic reticulum
a system of membranes that is found in a cell’s cytoplasm and that assists in the production, processing, and transport of proteins and in the production of lipids.
ribosome
a cell organelle composed of RNA and protein; the site of protein synthesis.
lysosome
a cell organelle that contains digestive enzymes.
vacuole
a space or vesicle within the cytoplasm of a cell.
organelle
one of the small bodies in a cell’s cytoplasm that are specialized to perform a specific function.
prokaryote
an organism that consists of a single cell that does not have a nucleus.
eukaryote
an organism made up of cells that have a nucleus enclosed by a membrane.
