Plants vs. Animals: Cellular Structures and Junctions

A set of flashcards covering key vocabulary related to the differences and similarities between plant and animal cells, including structures and junctions.

Plasmodesmata

Channels connecting plant cells that allow diffusion of molecules in the cytoplasm.

Gap Junctions

Channels found in animal cells that are similar to plasmodesmata, often located in the heart and during the embryonic stage.

Tight Junctions

Leakproof sheets that prevent fluid from moving across a layer of cells, commonly found in the lining of the digestive tract.

Desmosomes

Anchoring junctions that provide strong connections in stressed tissue, such as skin and heart muscle.

Central Vacuoles

Large storage organelles in plant cells that store water, pigments, and waste.

Chloroplasts

Organelles in plant cells that carry out photosynthesis.

Cell Walls

Rigid outer structures of plant cells that give them shape and protection.

Nucleus

The organelle that contains the cell's genetic material.

Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER)

An organelle involved in protein and lipid synthesis, which includes rough and smooth types.

Mitochondrion

An organelle that generates energy for the cell through cellular respiration.

Cytoskeleton

A network of fibers that maintain cell shape and enable movement.