Organelles

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to organelles and their functions within eukaryotic cells, including differences between plant and animal cells.

Vesicles

Membrane-bound structures that perform a variety of functions by separating their contents from the cytosol.

Central Vacuole

A large vacuole in plant cells that regulates the concentration of water in changing environmental conditions.

Lysosomes

Organelles in animal cells containing digestive enzymes that break down macromolecules and recycle worn-out organelles.

Peroxisomes

Organelles that carry out oxidation reactions and detoxify poisons, producing hydrogen peroxide as a byproduct.

Endomembrane System

A system of membranes in a cell that includes the nuclear membrane, endoplasmic reticulum, and Golgi apparatus, facilitating protein synthesis and transport.

Mitochondria

Double-membrane organelles responsible for producing ATP through cellular respiration.

Chloroplasts

Organelles found only in plant cells that capture light energy and convert it to chemical energy during photosynthesis.

Endosymbiotic Theory

The theory suggesting that some organelles in eukaryotic cells originated from prokaryotic microbes that entered into a symbiotic relationship.

Heterotrophs

Organisms that obtain their energy by consuming other organisms.

Microfilaments

Thin protein filaments that provide rigidity and shape to the cell and facilitate movements.

Microtubules

Tubular structures that help maintain cell shape, resist compression, and serve as tracks for vesicle transport.

Cell Membrane

A lipid bilayer that surrounds all living cells, separating the cell’s interior from its external environment.

Eukaryotic Cells

Cells that have a nucleus and other membrane-bound organelles, including plant and animal cells.

Prokaryotic Cells

Single-celled organisms without a nucleus, belonging to the domains Bacteria and Archaea.

Cytoskeleton

A network of protein filaments that maintain cell shape, secure organelles, and enable cellular movement.

Cristae

Folds of the inner membrane of mitochondria that increase the surface area for chemical reactions.

Stroma

The fluid-filled space inside chloroplasts, surrounding the thylakoids, where the Calvin cycle occurs.

Hydrophobic Tails

The water-fearing parts of phospholipids that face inward in the plasma membrane.

Hydrophilic Heads

The water-loving parts of phospholipids that face outward towards the cell's exterior and interior.