The Cellular Level of Organization unit 5

These flashcards cover essential vocabulary related to cytoplasm, organelles, and cellular processes important for understanding integrated human anatomy and physiology.

Cytoplasm

The jelly-like substance where organelles are located, consisting of cytosol and organelles.

Cytosol

The fluid portion of the cytoplasm that contains solutes and is the site for various cellular processes.

Organelles

Specialized structures within a cell that perform specific functions, often referred to as 'little organs'.

Mitochondrion

An organelle responsible for energy production in the form of ATP.

ATP

Adenosine triphosphate, the energy currency of the cell.

Endoplasmic Reticulum

An organelle involved in the synthesis of proteins and lipids, with two types: rough and smooth.

Ribosome

The site of protein synthesis, can be free in the cytosol or bound to the rough endoplasmic reticulum.

Lysosome

An organelle containing enzymes that break down waste materials and cellular debris.

Peroxisome

An organelle that contains enzymes for breaking down fatty acids and detoxifying harmful substances.

Proteasome

A complex that degrades unneeded or damaged proteins by breaking them down into amino acids.

Golgi Complex

An organelle that modifies, sorts, and packages proteins for secretion or delivery to other organelles.

Cilia

Tiny hair-like structures on the surface of cells that help in movement or moving fluids across the cell surface.

Flagella

Long whip-like structures used for motility in certain cells, such as sperm.

Cytoskeleton

A network of protein fibers that provide structural support and shape to the cell.

Microfilaments

The smallest components of the cytoskeleton, made primarily of actin and involved in cell movement.

Microtubules

Hollow tubes that provide structural support and make up cilia, flagella, and spindle fibers.

Intermediate Filaments

Components of the cytoskeleton that provide tensile strength to the cell.

Cellular Respiration

The process by which glucose is oxidized to produce ATP.

Glycolysis

The first step of cellular respiration occurring in the cytoplasm, where glucose is split into pyruvate.

Citric Acid Cycle

A series of chemical reactions used by all aerobic organisms to release stored energy through the oxidation of acetyl-CoA.

Electron Transport Chain

A series of proteins in the mitochondrial inner membrane that transfer electrons and generate ATP.

Anabolic Reactions

Metabolic pathways that construct molecules from smaller units, usually requiring energy.

Catabolic Reactions

Metabolic pathways that break down molecules into simpler ones, releasing energy.

Aerobic Respiration

Cellular respiration that requires oxygen to produce energy.

Anaerobic Respiration

Cellular respiration that occurs without oxygen, resulting in less energy production.

Gluconeogenesis

The process of synthesizing glucose from non-carbohydrate precursors.

Homeostasis

The maintenance of stable internal conditions in an organism.

Intrinsic pathway

The process by which signals originating within the cell lead to events such as energy production.

Metabolism

The total of all chemical reactions occurring in a biological organism.

Energy Currency

The form of energy used within cells, primarily ATP.

Phosphorylation

The process of adding a phosphate group to a molecule, often to activate or deactivate enzymes.

Substrate-level phosphorylation

The direct transfer of a phosphate group from a donor molecule to ADP to form ATP.

Oxidative phosphorylation

The production of ATP from ADP and inorganic phosphate via the electron transport chain.