Introduction to Cell Biology and Cellular Functions

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards generated from lecture notes covering key cell components, organelle functions, membrane transport types, and cell division concepts.

Cell

The basic structural and functional unit of life.

Cell membrane

Also known as the plasma membrane, it is a selectively permeable outer boundary made of phospholipids that controls movement in and out of the cell to maintain homeostasis.

Cytoplasm

The internal part of the cell consisting of a jelly-like material in which cellular organelles are suspended.

Ribosomes

Organelles that act as the site of protein synthesis and are attached to the rough ER.

Rough ER

Endoplasmic reticulum studded with ribosomes that gives it a rough appearance and aids in protein production.

Smooth ER

Endoplasmic reticulum that lacks ribosomes and functions in lipid synthesis and detoxification.

Golgi apparatus

An organelle that modifies, packages, splices proteins, and ships them out using vesicles, acting as the cell's post office.

Mitochondria

The powerhouse of the cell that produces ATP to supply cellular energy.

Lysosomes

Organelles containing enzymes that digest foreign substances and worn-out cellular organelles.

Peroxisomes

Organelles that detoxify harmful chemicals and break down fatty acids.

Nucleus

The control center of the cell that stores genetic information, directs protein synthesis, and contains DNA.

Chromosomes

Structures containing genetic material, totaling $46$ in humans ($23$ inherited from mom and $23$ from dad).

Passive transport

Membrane transport that requires no energy and moves substances down the concentration gradient.

Active transport

Membrane transport that requires energy (ATP) to move substances up against the concentration gradient.

Diffusion

A passive transport process where solutes travel unassisted from a high concentration gradient to a low concentration gradient.

Osmosis

The passive transport of water molecules moving from high concentrations of water to low concentrations of water.

Facilitated diffusion

A form of passive transport that requires an attached membrane protein or vesicle to assist movement across the cell membrane.

Sodium-potassium pump

An active transport mechanism operating on a $3\text{ to }2$ ratio that consumes ATP to move ions against the concentration gradient.

Endocytosis

Active cellular transport that brings materials inside the cell, primarily consisting of phagocytosis and pinocytosis.

Exocytosis

Process by which materials, such as hormones or neurotransmitters, exit the cell inside vesicles through the cell membrane.

Phagocytosis

A form of endocytosis where the cell engulfs and eats foreign solid substances.

Pinocytosis

A form of endocytosis where the cell drinks or ingests extracellular material in a liquid state.

Interphase

The stage of the cell life cycle where the cell prepares for cell division and mitosis.

Mitosis

Cellular division consisting of four mitotic phases and cytokinesis, essential for growth, repair, and replacing damaged cells.

PMAT

An acronym representing the four sequential phases of mitosis: prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase.