Animal and Plant Cells

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering cell organisation, cell discovery, and the structure and function of animal and plant cell organelles.

Cells

The smallest units and building blocks of life that combine to make up living organisms.

Tissues

Structures formed by groups of cells combining together.

Organs

Body structures formed by different tissues working together with the same function.

Organ systems

Combinations of organs working together that ultimately form organisms.

Robert Hooke

The scientist who first observed cells in 1665 using a microscope.

Organelles

Specialised sub-structures representing different parts of a cell that perform specific functions.

Nucleus

The organelle that controls the cell's activities and contains the instructions (DNA) for making new cells or organisms.

Cell membrane

A structure that keeps the cell together and controls what goes into and out of the cell.

Cytoplasm

The jelly-like region of the cell where cellular activities and chemical reactions happen, including respiration.

Mitochondria

Key cellular organelles responsible for releasing energy within the cell.

Ribosomes

Key organelles found in cells that carry out protein production.

Cell wall

A rigid outer structure in plant cells made of cellulose that provides support.

Vacuole

A storage space in the cytoplasm filled with cell sap, important for keeping plant cells rigid to support the plant.

Chloroplast

An organelle found in plant cells containing chlorophyll to trap sunlight and absorb light for photosynthesis.

Cellulose

The material that composes the plant cell wall and provides structural support.