Cell Biology Basics – Organelles, Cell Types, and Osmosis

Vocabulary flashcards covering major cell organelles, differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, and osmosis-related clinical implications.

Cell Membrane

Selective barrier that regulates material entry/exit and maintains the cell’s internal environment.

Vacuole

Plant organelle that stores water and waste products while contributing to structural support through turgor pressure.

Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum (Smooth ER)

Organelle responsible for lipid synthesis and Ca²⁺ ion storage.

Cell Wall

Rigid layer outside the plasma membrane of plants that provides structural support and protection.

Golgi Apparatus

Organelle that modifies proteins (e.g., by adding carbohydrates) and sorts them for transport.

Chloroplast

Plant organelle where photosynthesis converts light energy into chemical bond energy.

Nucleolus

Nuclear region where ribosome subunits are assembled.

Mitochondrion

Organelle that carries out cellular respiration, converting glucose into ATP.

Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum (Rough ER)

Membrane with ribosomes; synthesizes, modifies, and tags proteins.

Lysosome

Vesicle containing hydrolytic enzymes that digest macromolecules into monomers.

Ribosome

Molecular machine (free or ER-bound) that synthesizes proteins from mRNA templates.

Nucleus

Membrane-bound organelle that houses DNA; site of DNA replication and RNA transcription.

Prokaryotic Cell

Small bacterial cell lacking membrane-bound organelles; DNA is located in a nucleoid region.

Eukaryotic Cell

Larger cell type (plants, animals, fungi) containing membrane-bound organelles and DNA enclosed in a nucleus.

Nucleoid

Region in prokaryotes where the circular DNA molecule is found, not enclosed by a membrane.

Osmosis

Diffusion of water across a selectively permeable membrane from lower solute concentration to higher solute concentration.

Hypotonic Solution (Clinical Context)

IV fluid with lower solute concentration than blood; water enters red blood cells, causing them to swell and possibly lyse.

Turgor Pressure

Internal pressure within plant cells generated by the vacuole pushing against the cell wall, aiding structural support.

ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate)

Primary energy currency of the cell, produced mainly in mitochondria during cellular respiration.

Photosynthesis

Process in chloroplasts that converts light energy, water, and CO₂ into glucose and O₂.