Parts of a cell Flashcards
Description of structure: mitochondrion
Bean-shaped, double membrane, inner membrane highly folded
Description of functions: mitochondrion
Creates energy for the cell
Relate S to F: Mitochondrion
Inner membrane being folded provides a greater surface area - leading to more space available for energy production.
Structure - nucleolus
Small dark spot located inside the nucleus made of proteins and RNA.
Function - nucleolus
Produces ribosomes (which are involved in making proteins)
Relate S to F - nucleolus
Because proteins are made from DNA instructions, it is handy to have them in the nucleus with the DNA.
Structure: chloroplast
Green organelles located in plant cells, double membrane, contains chlorophyll
Function - chloroplast
Carry out the process of photosynthesis
Relate S to F: chloroplast
Because it contains chlorophyll it is able to absorb light and perform photosynthesis.
Structure: Nucleus
Membrane - bound (by nuclear membrane), contains nuclear pores (holes in membrane)
Function - nucleus
Holds genetic material, directs and controls all processes carried out by the cell
Relate S to F: Nucleus
Genetic material is kept here - therefore it can control all of the cell’s processed. Nuclear pores allow materials to get in and out of the nucleus.
Structure: Vacuole
Large, sac-like structure (larger in plant cells than animal cells)
Function: vacuole
Water storage
Relate S to F: vacuole
Sac-like structure allows it to store water.
Structure: Cytoplasm (cytosol)
Semi-fluid like substance located throughout the cell
Function: cytoplasm (cytosol)
Holds organelles in place
Relate S to F: cytoplasm
Because it is like ‘jello’ in consistence it is able to hold organelles generally in place (in conjunction with cytoskeleton)
Structure: cell membrane
Made of a liquid bilayer, surrounds cytoplasm
Function: Cell membrane
Semi-permeable (lets some substances in, while excluding others) protects cell from foreign substances.
Relate S to F: Cell membrane
Semi permeability of membrane allows it to regulate what materials can and can’t enter/exit the cell
Structure: Endoplasmic reticulum
Flattened, membrane-enclosed tubes continuous with the outer membrane of the nucleus.
Function: endoplasmic reticulum
Transport materials, help with protein synthesis
Relate S to F: Endoplasmic reticulum
Because they are hollow tubes they are easily able to transport materials. Close to the nucleus becasue many of the important cell information is kept here
Structure: golgi bodies
A series of flattened membrane-enclosed disks
Function - Golgi bodies
Packages vesicles with things like digestive enzymes and cellular wastes
Relate S to F - Golgi bodies
Because tightly ‘squished’ it increases surface area, allowing more vesicles to be packaged
Structure: vesicles
Fluid-enclosed sac surrounded by a membrane
Function - vesicles
Various functions, depending on what it contains
Structure - lysosomes
Type of vesicle (packaged by the golgi bodies) that contains digestive chemicals
Function - lysosomes
Kill foreign material in the cell. Can also kill the cell (cell suicide = APOPTOSIS).
Relate S to F - lysosomes
Enzymes inside allow lysosomes to digest the cell.
Structure - ribosome
Small structure composed of RNA (similar to DNA). Many found along endoplasmic reticulum
Function - ribosome
Involved in protein synthesis
Relate S and F - ribosome
Location along endoplasmic reticulum allows easier protein synthesis because genetic material is located close by.
Structure - cytoskeleton
Proteins called microtubules and microfilaments embedded in cytoplasm
Function - cytoskeleton
Mostly for support of cell and hold organelles in place
Structure - cell wall
Tough, outer layer of plant cells
Function - Cell wall
Protection prevents over-expansion of plant cells
Relate S and F - cell wall
Tough material is flexible, allowing cell to expand without bursting if too much water enters the cell.
