Cells Flashcards
What is the point of the cell?
Carry out all chemical activities needed to sustain life. Are the building blocks of all living things.
Whats a tissue
A tissue is a group of cells that are similar in structure and function.
Four main elements the cell is comprised of?
Carbon Oxygen Hydrogen Nitrogen
Général parts of a cell:
Plasma or cell membrane Cytoplasm Nucleus Organelles
Features of the Plasma or Cell Membrane
Outermost component Semi-permeable Controls what enters and leaves the cell Composed of a fluid lipid bilayer containing proteins The lipid bilayer forms the basis membrane structure
Functions of proteins in membrane function
1.Act as enzymes or carriers in membrane transport 2. Form membrane channels or pores 3. Provide receptor sites for hormones and other chemicals
Main functions of lipids within a cell
Storage of energy for long-term use (e.g. triglycerides)
Hormonal roles (e.g. steroids such as oestrogen and testosterone
Insulation - both thermal (triglycerides) and electrical (sphingolipids)
Protection of internal organs (e.g. triglycerides and waxes)
Structural components of cells (e.g. phospholipids and cholesterol)
Functions of Cytoplasm in a cell?
Cytoplasm is all the contents within the cell membrane (including the cytosol)
- Supports and suspends organelles
- Supports cellular processes.
- Helps to move materials, such as hormones, around the cell and also dissolves cellular waste.
What is Cytosol? and what is its function?
Cytosol is the fluid substance in the cytoplasm that contains inclusions, stored or inactive materials such as fat globules, water vacuoles, crystals and organelles.
What is the nucleus and what are a couple functions?
Double-membrane bound cell organelle. Maintaines the integrity of the genes which regulate the gene expression, in turn regulating the activities of the cell. Therefore known as the control center of the cell.
Controls cell activities and cell division
Stores heredity material in the form of DNA (deoxy-ribonucleic acid) strands. Also stores proteins and ribonucleic acid (RNA) in the nucleolus
Aids in exchange of DNA and RNA between the nucleus and the rest of the cell
Ribosome (function)
Protein synthesis
Golgi apparatus (function)
- Modifies and packages protein secretions for secretion.
- Involved in the creation of lysosomes
- Involved in the transport of lipids around the cell
Mitochondria (function)
Perform cellular respiration. This means taking in nutrients from the cell, breaking it down, and turning it into energy (ATP)
Endoplasmic Reticulum (function and brief description)
Passageway for transport of substances Network of interconnected tubes and parallel membranes enclosing fluid-filled cavities or cisternae. Two distinct varieties: Rough endoplasmic reticulum and Smooth endoplasmic reticulum
Lysosomes (function)
Digest and eliminate cellular debris and bacteria
Centrioles (function)
Initiate cell division
Ribosomes (location)
Found at two locations: 1. Free in the cytoplasm 2. Attached to rough endoplasmic reticulum
Whats the difference between Rough and Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum? and What is ERs function?
Rough ER has ribosomes attached to it, smooth ER does not. ER is a membrane enclosed passageway for transporting materials, such as the proteins synthesised by ribosomes. It then secretes these materials in small vesicles, where they are usually recieved by the golgi apparatus.
Smooth ER also acts as a storage organelle, where it plays a part in the creation and storage of lipids and steroids.
What does “lipid” mean
Any of a class of organic compounds that are fatty acids or their derivatives and are insoluble in water but soluble in organic solvents. They include many natural oils, waxes, and steroids.
Cellular Functions
Metabolism Ingestion Assimilation (absorption) Excretion Reproduction Response to stimuli
Adenosine Triphosphate - ATP
Provides energy that is immediately useable by all body cells Important for all cellular functions including transport across membranes, smooth muscle contraction Universal energy compound
Cellular Respiration (brief overview)
Cellular respiration involves metabolic reactions and processes that take place in a cell or across the cell membrane to get biochemical energy from fuel molecules and the release of cells waste products. It is the process by which the chemical energy of “food” molecules is released and partially captured in the form of ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate)
Cellular Respiration (Molecules required)
Fuel molecules commonly used for cell respiration include: glucose, amino acids, fatty acids and oxygen.
