Cells and Tissues Review

Vocabulary practice flashcards generated from lecture reviewer notes covering prokaryotic vs. eukaryotic cells, organelle structures and functions, and tissue classification types.

Plasmid

The circular genetic material characteristic of bacteria.

Protozoa

Animal-like, eukaryotic protists that are mostly unicellular.

Algae

Plant-like, eukaryotic protists that are mostly unicellular.

Molds

Fungus-like eukaryotic protists.

Binary fission

The method of cell division utilized by prokaryotic cells.

Cell/Plasma membrane

A lipid bilayer structure that gives shape, separates the cell from its environment, and acts as a recognition site/barrier; it is permeable to small, nonpolar, uncharged molecules (e.g., $O_2$, amino acids) and impermeable to glucose.

Cytoplasm

Cell compartment that holds organelles, consisting of an outer gel-like ectoplasm, an inner liquid endoplasm, and cytosol, which is clear fluid where particles disperse.

Mitochondria

The powerhouse of the cell that generates ATP via aerobic respiration and plays a key role in apoptosis.

Apoptosis

Programmed cell death, distinct from necrosis.

Necrosis

Cell death caused by disease or injury.

Ribosomes

Organelles that synthesize proteins; attached to RER to synthesize proteins for plasma membrane insertion or secretion, or free in cytoplasm to synthesize proteins for cytosol use.

Rough ER (RER)

Endoplasmic reticulum that synthesizes glycoproteins and phospholipids, which are routed to organelles, plasma membrane, or exocytosis.

Smooth ER (SER)

Endoplasmic reticulum that synthesizes fatty acids and steroids (estrogen, testosterone), detoxifies drugs, removes phosphate from glucose-6-phosphate, and stores/releases $Ca^{2+}$ for muscle contraction.

Golgi Apparatus

Organelle that modifies, sorts, packages, and transports proteins from RER, and forms secretory vesicles for exocytosis and transport vesicles for destinations such as lysosomes.

Lysosomes

Organelles that digest material brought in via endocytosis, digest worn-out organelles via autophagy, execute self-digestion of the entire cell via autolysis, and carry out extracellular digestion.

Autophagy

Lysosomal digestion of worn-out organelles.

Autolysis

Self-digestion of an entire cell by lysosomes.

Centrosome

Structure containing tubulins that builds microtubules in nondividing cells and forms the mitotic spindle in dividing cells.

Cilia

Cellular projections that move fluids along the cell surface.

Flagella

Cellular projections that move the entire cell.

Nucleus

The control center of the cell that directs all cell activities, produces ribosomes via nucleoli, and contains chromosomes.

Exocytosis

The process of releasing molecules out of the cell.

Endocytosis

The process of bringing molecules into the cell.

Squamous

Flat epithelial cell shape.

Cuboidal

Cube-shaped epithelial cell shape.

Columnar

Rectangular-shaped epithelial cell shape.

Pseudostratified epithelium

Epithelial tissue made of only ONE layer of columnar cells that appears to have multiple layers under the microscope.

Connective Tissue

Tissue that binds, supports, and strengthens other tissues, protects and insulates organs, compartmentalizes structures, and acts as the major transport system of the body.

Muscular Tissue

Tissue composed of elongated muscle fibers (myocytes) that uses ATP to generate force for body movement, posture, and heat generation.

Skeletal Muscle

Voluntary muscle tissue attached to bones that features striated, multinucleated cells with peripheral nuclei.

Cardiac Muscle

Involuntary muscle tissue found in the heart, consisting of branching, striated cells with intercalated discs and one centrally located nucleus.

Smooth Muscle

Involuntary, non-striated muscle tissue located in organs like the esophagus and small intestine, featuring spindle-shaped cells with a centrally located nucleus.

Nervous Tissue

Tissue composed of neurons, which carry impulses, and neuroglia, which support neurons.

Neurons

Cells in nervous tissue that convert stimuli into nerve action potentials (nerve impulses).