Cell Structure and Organisation

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering cell parts, organelles, specialized cells, and levels of biological organization based on the lecture material.

Cell

The basic unit of life and the simplest unit which makes up a living thing.

Light microscope

An instrument that magnifies an object up to $1000$ times and produces coloured micrographs, allowing for the observation of the cell wall, nucleus, and vacuoles.

Electron microscope

An instrument that magnifies an object up to $200\,000$ times and produces black and white micrographs; it is required to see the cell membrane and ribosomes.

Protoplasm

The living material found in a cell, consisting of the cell membrane, cytoplasm, and nucleus.

Cell wall

The outermost part of a plant cell made of cellulose that is fully permeable, protects the cell from injury, and gives it its shape.

Cell membrane

A partially permeable membrane made of lipids and proteins that surrounds the cytoplasm and controls substances entering or leaving the cell.

Cytoplasm

A jelly-like substance embedded with organelles and the site where most cellular activities occur.

Nucleus

A structure surrounded by a nuclear membrane that controls cell activities such as growth and repair and contains genetic material in the form of chromosomes.

Organelles

Tiny structures embedded in the cytoplasm that carry out different and specific functions.

Mitochondrion

A small oval or sausage-shaped structure with a folded inner membrane that serves as the site where aerobic respiration occurs to provide energy.

Ribosomes

Small round structures found freely in the cytoplasm or attached to organelles that synthesise proteins.

Vacuole (Plant Cell)

A large and central fluid-filled space enclosed by a partially permeable membrane that contains cell sap.

Cell sap

The fluid inside a plant vacuole that contains dissolved sugars, mineral salts, and amino acids.

Chloroplast

An oval structure found only in plant cells that contains chlorophyll and is the site for photosynthesis.

Chlorophyll

A green pigment contained in stacks of membranes within chloroplasts that is essential for photosynthesis.

Specialised cells

Cells that have undergone differentiation to develop special structures or lose certain structures to carry out specific functions.

Red blood cell

A circular, biconcave cell that lacks a nucleus and contains haemoglobin to transport oxygen to all parts of the body.

Root hair cell

A cell with a long and narrow extension that increases the surface area-to-volume ratio to increase the rate of absorption of water and mineral salts.

Muscle cell

A cell containing many mitochondria to provide the energy required for muscle contractions to produce movement.

Tissue

A group of similar cells working together to perform a specific function; can be simple (same cell type) or complex (multiple cell types).

Organ

A structure formed by different tissues combining to work together for a common purpose.

Organ system

A group of organs working together to perform bodily functions, such as the digestive system.