Cell Biology: Cell Structure, Cell Division, and Cell Transport

Flashcards covering cell organelles, stages of cell division (mitosis and cytokinesis), cell transport mechanisms (diffusion and osmosis), and cellular responses to hypertonic, isotonic, and hypotonic solutions.

Exocytosis

The cellular process by which a secretion is released from the cell.

Cytoskeletal elements

Cellular structural components consisting of microtubules and intermediate filaments.

Centrosome

A cellular structure composed of a matrix containing 2 centrioles.

Mitosis

Nuclear division.

Cytokinesis

Division of the cytoplasm.

Product of mitosis

Two daughter cells that are identical to the parent cell.

Early Prophase

A stage of nuclear division characterized by early mitotic spindle formation, chromatin, an intact nucleolus and nuclear envelope, and centrosomes each with 2 centrioles.

Late Prophase

A stage of nuclear division featuring asters, fragments of the nuclear envelope, kinetochores, kinetochore microtubules, and chromosomes consisting of two sister chromatids joined at a centromere.

Metaphase

A stage of nuclear division where chromosomes align along the metaphase plate with polar microtubules extending from spindle poles.

Anaphase

A stage of nuclear division characterized by the separation of chromosomes into distinct daughter chromosomes.

Telophase

A stage of nuclear division involving the formation of a new nuclear envelope and nucleolus around separated chromosomes.

Contractile ring

A structure formed at the cleavage furrow during cytokinesis to divide the cytoplasm.

Diffusion

Movement of molecules from a region of higher concentration to a region of lower concentration, the speed of which is affected by molecule size.

Osmosis

The diffusion of solvent molecules (ex. water) through a semi-permeable membrane.

Hypotonic solution

A solution with a lower solute concentration than inside the cell (ex: Distilled water), causing cells to take on water by osmosis until they become bloated and burst (lyse).

Isotonic solution

A solution with the same solute concentration inside and outside the cell, in which cells retain their normal size and shape as water moves in and out.

Hypertonic solution

A solution with a higher solute concentration than inside the cell (ex: salty water), causing cells to lose water by osmosis and shrink.

0.9% saline

A solution that is isotonic to red blood cells.