Chapter 3: Cell Structure and Function Flashcards

A comprehensive set of fill-in-the-blank practice flashcards covering cell structure, cellular functions, membrane transport mechanisms, and organelle roles based on Chapter 3 lecture notes.

Although cells differ considerably in shape, size, and function, most human cells contain several fundamental components: the plasma membrane, cytoplasm, and __________.

nucleus

Metabolism includes catabolism, which is the breakdown of molecules and release of energy, and __________, which is the construction of larger molecules from smaller molecules.

Anabolism

In somatic cells, the primary process of cell division is __________, which produces two genetically similar daughter cells.

mitosis

The cell membrane is primarily composed of a __________ bilayer.

phospholipid

Phospholipids in the cell membrane have a hydrophilic head that interacts with water and __________ tails that avoid water.

hydrophobic

__________ is located between phospholipids in the cell membrane and functions to help regulate membrane stability and fluidity.

Cholesterol

Passive transport is the movement of substances across the cell membrane without direct expenditure of cellular __________.

ATP

In an __________ environment, the water concentration is equal inside and outside the cell, so the cell stays the same size.

isotonic

In a __________ environment, the outside fluid has more water than the inside of the cell, causing water to rush into the cell and the cell to swell up.

hypotonic

In a __________ environment, the outside fluid has less water than the inside of the cell, causing water to rush out of the cell and the cell to shrink.

hypertonic

In facilitated diffusion, __________ proteins form passageways through the membrane, while carrier proteins bind substances and change shape to move them across.

Channel

The sodium-potassium pump is an example of __________ transport, which moves substances against their concentration gradient using cellular energy.

active

The type of endocytosis where the cell engulfs large particles or cells, such as white blood cells engulfing bacteria, is called __________.

Phagocytosis

The type of endocytosis where the cell takes in extracellular fluid and dissolved substances is called __________.

Pinocytosis

The __________ is a dense region within the nucleus that is primarily involved in producing ribosomal RNA and assembling ribosomal subunits.

nucleolus

The network of membrane-bound sacs and tubules covered with ribosomes involved in the synthesis, folding, and initial processing of proteins is the __________ endoplasmic reticulum.

rough

The __________ endoplasmic reticulum is a membrane network without attached ribosomes that performs lipid synthesis, steroid production, detoxification, and calcium ion storage.

smooth

The __________ apparatus is a membrane-bound organelle composed of flattened sacs that receives, modifies, sorts, and packages proteins and lipids.

Golgi

Mitochondria are double-membrane organelles responsible for aerobic ATP production that contain an inner membrane with folds called __________.

cristae

Membrane-bound organelles containing digestive enzymes capable of breaking down cellular materials, worn-out organelles, and debris are called __________.

lysosomes

Organelles containing enzymes involved in oxidation reactions, lipid metabolism, and detoxification that produce and break down hydrogen peroxide are called __________.

peroxisomes

The cytoskeleton is an internal network of protein filaments that includes microfilaments, intermediate filaments, and __________.

microtubules

Small, non-motile projections of the plasma membrane that function to increase the surface area of a cell for absorption are called __________.

microvilli

A __________ is a long, whip-like cellular projection specialized for cell movement, such as the tail used by a sperm cell to move toward an ovum.

flagellum