CELS191 Lecture 8: Cell Walls & Their Role in Regulating Plant Cell Shape

A collection of vocabulary flashcards based on the lecture content concerning plant cell walls and their functions.

Cell Wall

The rigid outer layer of a plant cell, providing structural support and regulating cell shape.

Cellulose

A major component of the plant cell wall, a glucose polymer that forms microfibrils.

Vacuole

A membrane-bound organelle in plant cells that stores substances and helps regulate turgor pressure.

Turgor Pressure

The pressure exerted by the protoplast against the cell wall, maintaining plant rigidity.

Extensin

A protein that cross-links polysaccharides in the cell wall, affecting its strength and extensibility.

Primary Cell Wall

The first layer of the cell wall formed during cell growth, primarily made of cellulose.

Secondary Cell Wall

A thicker, stronger layer of the cell wall produced after cell growth has stopped, often rich in lignin.

Plasmodesmata

Intercellular connections that allow communication and transport of small molecules between plant cells.

Osmosis

The movement of water across a selectively permeable membrane from a region of low solute concentration to high concentration.

Hemicellulose

A heterogeneous group of polysaccharides that provide structural support and fill spaces between cellulose microfibrils.

Pectin

Negatively charged polysaccharides that bind water, contributing to the gel-like properties of the cell wall.

Lignin

A complex polymer that provides additional strength and rigidity to the secondary cell wall.

Microfibrils

Highly ordered structures formed by cellulose that provide tensile strength to the cell wall.

Eukarya

A domain of life that includes all organisms with eukaryotic cells, such as plants and animals.

Cytoskeleton

A network of fibers that provides structural support and helps maintain the position of organelles in the cell.

Exocytosis

The process by which substances are transported out of the cell via vesicles that fuse with the plasma membrane.

Morphology

The study of the form and structure of organisms, often used in relation to how plant cells are shaped by their cell walls.