Animal Cell Organelles

Vocabulary flashcards covering the structures, organelles, and functions of animal cells based on the lecture notes.

Plasma membrane

The protective outer layer of each cell that lets certain things into the cell that it needs while keeping other things out.

Semi-permeable

The characteristic of the plasma membrane that allows specific required substances to enter the cell while excluding others.

Cytoplasm

The watery medium inside the cell that contains all the working parts of the cell and in which everything floats.

Organelles

The working parts of the cell contained within the cytoplasm.

Ribosomes

Little grains floating around inside the cell where proteins are made, which stay in the cell.

Nucleus

The cell organelle that contains DNA and holds all genetic information.

Chromosomes

Structures located in the nucleus where DNA is found, existing as $23$ pairs ($46$ total) in each nucleus of each cell.

Nuclear membrane

The membrane surrounding the nucleus that controls what goes in and out of it.

Rough endoplasmic reticulum (rough ER)

A series of folded membrane pathways spotted with ribosomes that together make new proteins and new membranes needed by the cell.

Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum (smooth ER)

Endoplasmic reticulum that has no ribosomes on it and forms containers called transport vesicles to move things around inside the cell.

Transport vesicles

Containers formed by the smooth ER used to move things around inside the cell.

Golgi apparatus

An organelle made up of saccules that package up things to be transported around the cell or that need to leave the cell, such as hormones.

Saccules

Structures that make up the Golgi apparatus.

Lysosomes

Vesicles containing digestive enzymes that break down substances the cell does not need and kill bacteria invading the body.

Vacuoles

Large membranous sacs used for storing things.

Vesicles

Smaller sacs used for storing smaller stuff.

Mitochondria

Double-membraned organelles that break down sugars to make ATP for cell energy, containing their own DNA and ribosomes and reproducing by division.

Cristae

Little finger-like projections formed by the inner folding of the mitochondria's double membrane.

Matrix

The gel-like substance inside mitochondria that contains enzymes used to break down sugars to make ATP.

ATP

The molecule produced by breaking down sugars in the mitochondria, which is used by the cell as energy.