Chapter 3: Cells Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering cell structure, organelles, transport mechanisms, cell division, differentiation, and growth disorders.

Typical Cell

The basic unit of living matter, composed of a cell membrane, nucleus, nuclear membrane, nucleolus, cytoplasm, and various organelles.

Cell Membrane

The outer boundary of a cell consisting of a phospholipid bilayer with phosphate heads and lipid chains, embedded proteins forming pores, glycoproteins, carbohydrate chains, and underlying cytoskeleton.

Nucleus

The control center of the cell that contains nucleoplasm, the nucleolus, and chromatin.

Endoplasmic Reticulum

A network of membrane-bound channels that channels substances, especially newly synthesized protein, throughout the cell.

Golgi Apparatus

A cytoplasmic organelle that packages protein.

Lysosomes

Cytoplasmic organelles that break down intracellular waste and kill ingested bacteria using powerful enzymes.

Cytoskeleton

A network within the cytoplasm that helps maintain the cell's shape and assists with cellular movement.

Centrioles

Structures that form the spindle apparatus in a dividing cell.

Microvilli

Cell membrane folds that increase surface area to enable better absorption of fluid and are involved with the movement of large amounts of water and dissolved solutes.

Cilia

Hair-like projections on the cell surface that move substances across a cell's surface.

Flagella

Long cell surface projections that help move the cell, such as enabling sperm to swim.

Diffusion

A passive transport mechanism involving the movement of a substance from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration.

Facilitated Diffusion

A passive transport mechanism where a helper molecule assists the movement of substances from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration.

Osmosis

The diffusion of water (solvent) from an area with more water to an area with less water across a semipermeable membrane.

Tonicity

The ability of a solution to affect the volume and pressure within a cell.

Isotonic Solution

A solution that has the same concentration as intracellular fluid.

Hypotonic Solution

A solution with a lower concentration than intracellular fluid that causes red blood cells to burst (lyse).

Hypertonic Solution

A solution with a higher concentration than intracellular fluid that causes red blood cells to shrink (crenate).

Filtration

The pushing of water and dissolved substances from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure.

Active Transport Pump

A cell transport mechanism that moves a substance uphill from an area of low concentration to an area of high concentration, requiring an input of adenosine triphosphate (ATP).

Phagocytosis

A form of endocytosis involving the engulfing of solid particles by the cell membrane.

Pinocytosis

A form of endocytosis involving the engulfing of liquid droplets by the cell membrane.

Exocytosis

The secretion of cellular products out of the cell.

Mitosis

The splitting of one mother cell into two identical daughter cells.

Meiosis

A type of cell division that occurs only in sex cells.

Cell Cycle

The sequence of events a cell undergoes, consisting of Interphase ($G_1$ phase, S phase, $G_2$ phase), M Phase (mitosis), and $G_0$ resting phase.

Stages of Mitosis

The sequential phases of mitotic cell division: Prophase, Metaphase, Anaphase, and Telophase, ending with two daughter cells.

Cell Differentiation

The process by which an unspecialized cell switches on specific enzymes to become a specialized cell, such as a neuron, red blood cell, muscle cell, bone cell, or epithelial cell.

Stem Cells

Relatively undifferentiated or unspecialized cells whose only function is the production of additional unspecialized cells.

Apoptosis

Programmed cell death that helps rid the body of old, unnecessary, and unhealthy cells.

Necrosis

The death of cells or groups of cells.