Cells Flashcards
What are cells?
The building blocks of all cells, Meade up of 70% water and containing many parts, each with a different function
What are organelles?
Small, specialised structures in cells that perform a specific function, such as the nucleus or mitochondria
What are the main features of animal cells?
Round and irregular in shape, do not contain a cell wall or chloroplast and have one or more small vacuoles
What are the main features of plant cells?
Fixed and rectangular shapes, contain a cell wall and chloroplast and have one large central vacuole, taking up 90% of the cell volume
What is the main similarity between plant and animal cells?
They are both eukaryotes
What are prokaryotes?
Unicellular organisms
What are eukaryotes?
Multicellular organisms
What is a unicellular organism?
An organism that cannot attain a large size because of the limits imposed by surface area to volume
What is a multicellular organism?
An organism that can attain a large size, increasing the number of small cells
What does the surface area to volume ratio define?
The larger the surface area to volume ratio, the larger the exchange with the external environnement
What is diffusion?
The movement of molecules from areas of high concentration to areas of low concentration in a free state
What is osmosis?
The diffusion of water and other solvents across a semi-permeable membrane from areas of high water concentration to areas of low waster concentration
What does MRSGREN stand for?
Movement, respiration, sensitivity, growth, reproduction, excretion and nutrition
What are hormones and what is their primary function/
The body’s chemical messengers, and they transfer information from one set of cells to another
What is homeostasis?
The maintenance of organisms’ internal conditions to remain healthy and functioning
