Cells and Viruses Vocabulary (Part 1)

active transport

the movement of materials against a concentration difference that requires energy

capsid

virus protein coat

cell membrane

a phospholipid layer that covers a cell's surface and acts as a barrier between the inside of a cell and the cell's environment

cell theory

the theory that states that all living things are made up of cells, that cells are the basic units of organisms, that each cell in a multicellular organism has a specific job, and that cells come only from existing cells

cell wall

a rigid structure that surrounds the cell membrane and provides support to the cell; mostly in plant cells but also found in some bacteria

chloroplast

an organelle found in plant and algae cells where photosynthesis occurs (usually green)

cilium (cilia)

a hairlike structure arranged in tightly packaged rows that projects from the surface of some cells (Plural: cilia)

concentration

the amount of a component in any given area or volume

cytoplasm

the region of the cell within the membrane that includes the fluid, the cytoskeleton, and all of the organelles except the nucleus

cytoskeleton

the cytoplasmic network of protein filaments that plays an essential role in cell movement, shape, and division

diffusion

process by which particles tend to move from an area where they are more concentrated to an area where they are less concentrated

endoplasmic reticulum

a system of membranes that is found in a cell's cytoplasm and that assists in the production, processing, and transport of proteins and in the production of lipids

envelope

membrane surrounding the capsid

eukaryote

an organism made up of cells that have a nucleus enclosed by a membrane, multiple chromosomes, and a mitotic cycle

Eukaryotes include animals, plants, and fungi but not bacteria or cyanobacteria

flagellum (flagella)

a long, hairlike structure that grows out of a cell and enables the cell to move (plural = flagella)

Usually if a cell has a flagella, it is associated with water or a watery medium because the flagella enables it to swim.

Golgi apparatus

cell organelle that helps make and package materials to be transported out of the cell

hypertonic

when comparing two solutions, the solution with the greater concentration of solutes

hypotonic

when comparing two solutions, the solution with the lesser concentration of solutes

isotonic

isotonic

angio

vessel

Example: angiocarditis

ante

before, in front of

Example: anterior

anti

against, opposed to

Example: antitoxin, antibody

apo-

off, from, away from

Example: apoplexy

aqua

water

Example: aquatic