Cytoskeletal Elements and Cell Organelles

These flashcards cover key vocabulary terms related to cytoskeletal elements and cellular organelles, providing definitions and functions to aid in understanding cell structure and function.

Cytoskeleton

A network of long fibers extending throughout the cell interior that functions in movement and structural support.

Actin filaments

Cytoskeletal fibers consisting of two coiled strands made of actin proteins, critical for cell movement and muscle contraction.

Intermediate filaments

Cytoskeletal fibers made from various proteins that provide structural support and are intermediate in diameter between actin filaments and microtubules.

Microtubules

Hollow cylindrical structures made of alpha-tubulin and beta-tubulin, serving as roadways for cargo movement within a cell.

Vacuole

An organelle that stores key molecules and is very prominent in most plant cells.

Chloroplast

An organelle that contains the molecular machinery required for photosynthesis.

Cell wall

A stiff structure outside many types of cells, primarily made of carbohydrates.

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER)

A eukaryotic organelle forming a branching network of tubes and sacs, involved in the synthesis and processing of proteins and lipids.

Golgi apparatus

An organelle comprised of stacked, flattened sacs where proteins and other molecules are processed and packaged for shipment.