Cells & Cell Transport Vocab

Cell wall

Rigid structure on the outside of some cells that provide structure and support

Chloroplast

Captures the energy of sunlight and uses it for photosynthesis

Cilia

Short, hair-like projections that help move the cell

Contractile Vacuole

Pushes out excess water to maintain homeostasis (keeping internal conditions the same)

Cytoplasm

Thick, fluid material inside the cell that holds all of the organelles in place

Endoplasmic Reticulum

Helps make and package proteins

Eyespot

Small spot, sensitive to light; works like a simple eye

Flagella

Long, whip-like tail that helps cell move

Golgi Apparatus

Transport system between the inside and outside of the cell

Lysosome

Breaks down wastes

Mitochondria

Powerhouse of the cell; site of cellular respiration (makes ATP)

Nucleus

Directs and controls the cell; contains DNA

Plasma Membrane

Controls what goes in and out of the cell

Pseudopod

"False foot"; allows organism to move forward

Ribosome

Site of protein synthesis

Vacuole

Storage (water, nutrients, etc.)

Chromatin

DNA not tightly twisted found when the cell is not dividing

Chromosome

DNA twisted up very tightly when cell is dividing

Eukaryotic Cell aka: Eukaryote

a cell with a nucleus and membrane bound organelles; larger and more complex and contains chromosomes/chromatin

Multicellular

Made of more than one cell

Plasmid

Circular DNA

Prokaryotic Cell aka: Prokaryote

a cell with no nucleus or membrane bound organelles; small and simple in size and contains plamids

Unicellular

One-celled

Concentration

the amount of something in a given space

Concentration Gradient

a difference in concentration on opposite sides of a membrane

Diffusion

movement of particles from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration

Equilibrium

state of equal concentration

Facilitated Diffusion

movement of substances across the membrane with the help of transport proteins such as carriers or channels

Passive Transport

cell transport that requires no energy and moves substances down their concentration gradient

Active Transport

Type of cellular transport that requires energy and moves substances up (against) their concentration gradient from low to high

Endocytosis

Large particles are engulfed, then enclosed by plasma membrane and move into the cell

Exocytosis

Large particles are released from cells by secreting them or expelling them out

Osmosis

The diffusion of water (type of passive transport)

Sodium-potassium pump

Moves sodium (NA+) and potassium (K+) against concentration gradient so that your nerves can work properly

Solute

Substance that is dissolved

Solution

Made up of a solute and a solvent

Solvent

Substance in which solute is dissolved