Membranes of Chloroplast and Types of Plastids

Vocabulary flashcards covering chloroplast structures, internal compartments, and related plant plastids.

Chloroplast

A lens-shaped organelle about three to six micromillimeters in length, found in leaves and other green organs of plants and algae, that captures light energy to produce sugar during photosynthesis.

Chlorophyll

The green pigment in chloroplasts that functions alongside enzymes and other molecules in the photosynthetic production of sugar.

Thylakoids

A membranous system inside the chloroplast consisting of flattened, interconnected sacs.

Granum

A stack of thylakoids arranged like poker chips inside the chloroplast.

Stroma

The fluid outside of the thylakoids containing DNA, ribosomes, and many enzymes.

Chloroplast Compartments

The three internal regions created by the chloroplast membranes: the intermembrane space, the stroma, and the thylakoid space.

Plastids

A family of closely related plant organelles, of which the chloroplast is a specialized member.

Amyloplast

A colorless type of plastid that stores starch, particularly in roots and tubers.

Chromoplast

A type of plastid containing pigments that give fruits and flowers their orange and yellow hues.