Cell Structure & Function Flashcards

AP Biology - Unit 2

Cell Wall

Gives structure to cell, specifically plant cells

Cytoplasm

fluid inside the cell that helps maintains cell shape

Golgi apparatus

helps package and send proteins and lipids away (THE POST OFFICE!!)

note: see the vesicles at the bottom! That’s exocytosis, used to package and send molecules out of the cell.

Cell membrane (Plasma Membrane)

The phospholipid bilayer that surrounds the cell and controls what goes in and out of the cell to maintain homeostasis.

Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum (Smooth ER)

Synthesizes lipids and hormones + breaks down toxins + stores calcium ions

Memorization Tip: Lipids and Steroids Make Detoxification Easy, or L.S.D = Lipids, Steroids/Hormones, Detoxification (this probably isn't great, but it helps summarize?)

Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum (Rough ER)

Site for protein synthesize, fold, modify, and transport (has ribosomes attached!)

Mitochondria

The Powerhouse of the Cell, creates ATP

Fact: It also triggers programmed cell death by releasing specific proteins when a cell is damaged or old.

Lysosomes

breaks down waste and denatures proteins to monomers

Ribosomes

synthesizing proteins from reading the mRNA (messenger RNA)

Nucleus

Stores and protects all DNA information to transcribe into mRNA (messenger RNA)

Recommendation: if you want to understand the function better, look at the image and connect it back to the ribosome’s function!

Chloroplast

conducting photosynthesis by converting sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide into Oxygen and Glucose (ONLY FOUND IN PLANT CELLS)

Vacuole

Stores fluids and waste (larger and supports shape in plant cells)