Cytology

Cytology

Structure	Easy definition
Plasma membrane	Controls what enters and leaves the cell
Cytoplasm	Material inside the cell around the nucleus
Cytosol	Fluid inside the cell
Centriole	Helps with cell division
Centrosome	Organizes microtubules for cell division
Golgi apparatus	Packages and ships proteins
Lysosome	Breaks down waste
Mitochondria	Makes ATP/energy
Peroxisome	Detoxifies harmful substances
Nucleolus	Helps make ribosomes
Ribosome	Makes proteins
Rough ER	Makes/processes proteins; has ribosomes
Smooth ER	Makes lipids; no ribosomes
Chromatin	Uncoiled DNA
Nuclear envelope	Membrane around the nucleus
Nuclear pore	Controls what enters/leaves the nucleus

Cytoskeleton

Term	Easy definition
Microvilli	Increase surface area for absorption
Cilia	Move substances across the cell surface

Cellular Transport

Term	Easy definition
Brownian movement	Random movement of particles
Concentration gradient	Difference in concentration between two areas
Crenation	Cell shrinks from losing water
Diffusion	Particles move high → low concentration
Filtration	Pressure pushes substances through a membrane
Hemolysis	Red blood cell bursts from too much water
Osmosis	Movement of water across a membrane
Selective permeability	Membrane lets some things through, but not others
Solute	Substance being dissolved
Solvent	Substance doing the dissolving
Solution	Solute + solvent

Cell Division

Term	Easy definition
Mitosis	Cell division for growth & repair
Chromatid	One copy/half of a duplicated chromosome
Chromatin	Loose/uncoiled DNA
Chromosome	Condensed/coiled DNA
Cleavage furrow	Pinching that divides an animal cell
Mitotic spindle	Fibers that move chromosomes
Interphase	Cell grows and copies DNA
Prophase	Chromosomes become visible; spindle forms
Metaphase	Chromosomes line up in the MIDDLE
Anaphase	Chromatids move APART
Telophase	Two new nuclei form
Cytokinesis	Cytoplasm divides → 2 cells

The 4 Phases

Prophase	Chromosomes become dark/thick and visible, but are messy/not lined up	P = Prepare
Metaphase	Chromosomes are lined up across the MIDDLE	M = Middle
Anaphase	Chromosomes are being pulled APART toward opposite sides	A = Apart
Telophase	Chromosomes are at opposite ends and 2 nuclei start forming	T = Two