cell diagram

Cilia

Hair-like cell surface projections. Found in respiratory & reproductive tracts. Sweeps fluids/mucus across cell surfaces.

Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum

Membranous organelle studded with ribosomes. Found near cell nucleus. Synthesizes and folds proteins for transport/secretion.

Facilitated & Simple Diffusion

Passive plasma membrane transport. Across cell membranes. Moves substances down concentration gradient without ATP.

Steroid Hormones (Estrogen/Testosterone)

4-ring lipid molecules derived from cholesterol. Produced in ovaries, testes, and adrenal glands. Regulate growth, gene expression, and sexual development.

Golgi Apparatus

Stack of flattened membranous sacs. Cytoplasm of eukaryotic cells. Modifies, packages, and routes proteins from ER to targets.

Enzyme Active Site Binding

Catalytic protein with specific substrate binding pocket. Cytoplasm and cellular compartments. Lowers activation energy to speed up metabolic reactions.

Amino Acid (Alanine)

Monomer containing amino group, carboxyl group, and functional side chain. Tissues, blood, and cellular fluid. Serves as building block for protein synthesis.

Glycogen

Highly branched glucose polysaccharide. Skeletal muscle and liver tissue. Acts as short-term carbohydrate energy storage in animals.

Triglyceride

Glycerol backbone attached to three fatty acid chains. Adipose fat tissue and blood plasma. Long-term energy storage, insulation, and body protection.

Cyclic Hydrocarbon / Benzene Ring

Six-carbon aromatic ring structure. Found in ringed amino acids, steroid backbones, and biological molecules. Serves as basic structural motif in organic chemistry.

Dehydration Synthesis & Hydrolysis

Reactions forming or breaking chemical bonds using water. Ribosomes, digestive system, and metabolic organelles. Synthesizes polymers by removing H2O or breaks polymers by adding H2O.

Desmosome

Anchoring intercellular junction. Epithelial tissue subjected to mechanical strain (skin, heart). Holds adjacent cells firmly together under mechanical stress.

Phosphate Group

Chemical functional group (PO4 3-). Nucleotides, ATP, phospholipids, and nucleic acids. Stores energy (ATP) and forms structural backbone of DNA/RNA/membranes.

Anaphase (Mitosis)

Phase of mitotic nuclear division. Dividing somatic cells. Pulls sister chromatids apart to opposite cell poles.

Metaphase (Mitosis)

Phase of cell division. Dividing somatic cells. Lines up double-stranded chromosomes along equatorial metaphase plate.

Chromatin / Nucleosome

DNA double helix wrapped around histone proteins. Inside the cell nucleus. Packages genome into compact structures and regulates gene expression.

Microvilli

Non-motile cell membrane folds forming a brush border. Small intestine and renal tubule columnar epithelial cells. Maximizes surface area for efficient nutrient and fluid absorption.

(Red Blood Cells)

Biconcave, anucleated blood cells packed with hemoglobin. Cardiovascular system / Blood vessels. Transports oxygen from lungs to tissues and CO2 to lungs.

Kwashiorkor

Severe dietary protein deficiency disorder. Clinical nutritional deficiency presentation. Causes decreased plasma osmotic pressure leading to abdominal edema (ascites).

Cell Nucleus

Double-membrane bounded organelle containing nucleolus and chromatin. Center of eukaryotic cells. Houses genomic DNA and controls all cellular activities.

Active Transport (Na+/K+ Pump)

Transmembrane protein pump requiring ATP energy. Plasma membrane of cells. Pumps ions/substrates against concentration gradients to maintain membrane potential.