Microscopy, Cell Structure and Function

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts related to microscopy, cell structures, and their functions.

Microscope Slide Preparation

The process of preparing specimens for viewing under a microscope, including adding liquid specimens to a slide and covering them with a coverslip.

Staining Techniques

Methods used to enhance contrast in biological tissues, including stains like iodine for starch, crystal violet for cell walls, and methylene blue for animal cell nuclei.

Coverslip

A thin glass or plastic sheet placed over a specimen on a microscope slide to flatten it and protect it.

Magnification

The process of enlarging the appearance of an object, expressed as a multiple of its actual size.

Resolution

The ability to distinguish two separate points on a specimen as distinct entities.

Eukaryotic Cells

Cells with a complex structure including membrane-bound organelles, such as a nucleus, which contains DNA.

Nucleus

The organelle that contains the chromosomes, consisting of DNA and protein, and controls the cell's activities.

Endoplasmic Reticulum

A network of membranes involved in protein and lipid synthesis; divided into rough (with ribosomes) and smooth types.

Ribosomes

Molecular machines responsible for synthesizing proteins by translating mRNA.

Mitochondria

Double-membraned organelles that generate energy through aerobic respiration, containing their own DNA and ribosomes.

Lysosomes

Membrane-bound vesicles that contain hydrolytic enzymes for breaking down waste materials and cellular debris.

Cilia

Hair-like structures made from microtubules that aid in movement of substances across the cell surface.

Chloroplasts

Organelles in plant cells that conduct photosynthesis, containing chlorophyll and capable of synthesizing proteins required for replication.

Cell Wall

A rigid outer layer in plant cells, composed of cellulose, providing structural support and protection.

Vacuoles

Storage organelles in plant cells that store nutrients and waste, surrounded by a membrane called the tonoplast.

Plasmodesmata

Cytoplasmic channels between plant cells that allow for the exchange of substances.

Prokaryotic Cells

Simple, unicellular organisms without a membrane-bound nucleus, often characterized by a single circular chromosome.

Viruses

Non-cellular infectious agents consisting of a nucleic acid core surrounded by a protein coat, requiring a host cell to reproduce.