Quizlet Structure and function of the cell

Print Options

This box will be automatically hidden when printing. Return to Set Page


  1. active transport: process done when energy is used to transport materials across membrane and the materials are said to be actively transported
  2. adhesion proteins: attaches cells to neighboring cells or provide anchors for the internal filaments and tubules that give stability to the cell
  3. anchoring junctions: protein attachments b/w adjacent animal cells
  4. aquaporins: found in plasma membrane of certain cells that increase the passage rate of water molecules
  5. basal bodies: act as microtubule organizing centers at the base of each flagellum and cilium and organize their development
  6. carrier proteins: bind to specific molecules, which are transferred across membrane after carrier protein undergoes change of shape. Passage of glucose into cell is by a carrier protein
  7. cell: basic functional unit of all living things
  8. cell junctions: serve to anchor cells to one another. provide passageway for cellular exchange
  9. cell walls: found in plants, fungi, protists, and bacteria.develop outside plasma membrane/provide support for cell; consists mainly of cellulose. of fungi they're made of cellulose and chitin
  10. cellulose: polysaccharide made from beta glucose
  11. central vacuoles: large bodies occupying most of interior of certain plant cells. when fully filled, they exert turgor, maintaining rigidity in cell; store nutrients/carry out functions otherwise assumed lysosomes in animal cells
  12. centrioles: act as microtubule organizing centers located outside nuclear envelope that gives rise to the microtubules that make up spindle apparatus used during cell division; plants lack them
  13. channel proteins: provide open passageways through membrane for certain hydrophilic substances such as polar and charged molecules
  14. chitin: modified polysaccharide differing from cellulose in that one of the hydroxyl groups is replaced by group containing nitrogen
  15. chloroplasts: carry out photosynthesis
  16. cholesterol: molecules distributed throughout phospholipid bilayer that provide some rigidity to the plasma membranes of animal cells
  17. chromatin: threadlike matrix that when the cell divides condenses into rod-shaped bodies (chromosomes)
  18. chromosomes: rod-shaped bodies; rod shaped cell structures that direct the activities of a cell and passes on the traits of a cell to new cells <genetics>
  19. communicating junctions: passageways b/w cells that allow transfer of chemical/electrical signals ; two kinds occur
  20. connexins: proteins that prevent the cytoplasms of each cell from mixing, but allow passage of ions and small molecules
  21. contractile vacuoles: specialized organelles in single-celled organisms that collect/pump excess water out of cell
  22. cytoplasm: consists of specialized bodies called organelles suspended in cytosol
  23. cytoskeleton: internal structure of the cytoplasm
  24. cytosol: fluid matrix that consists of water and dissolved substances such as proteins/nutrients
  25. desmosome: junction that consists of proteins that bind adjacent cells together, providing mechanical stability to tissues; also associated with protein filaments that extend into interior of cell/serve to hold cellular structures together
  26. endoplasmic reticulum: consists of stacks of flattened sacs involved in production of materials;, system of passage ways for transporting substances through cytoplasm
  27. extracellular matrix: in arer b/w adjacent cells; provides mechanical support/binds adjacent cells together
  28. flagella, cilia: structures that protrude form cell membrane/make wavelike movements; consist of microtubules arranged in nine pairs of microtubules in a circle surrounding a pair of microtubules
  29. fluid mosaic model: mosaic nature of scattered proteins within flexible matrix of phospholipid molecules in the cell membrane
  30. food vacuoles: temporary receptacles of nutrients; merge with lysosomes, whose digestive enzymes break down food
  31. gap junctions: narrow tunnels b/w animal cells that consist of proteins called connexins; allow communications b/w cells through exchange of materials/through transmission of electrical impulses; channel proteins of 2 adjacent cells that are closely aligned
  32. gated channels: ion channels in nerve/muscle open/close in response to specific chemical/electrical stimuli to allow specific ions
  33. glycocalyx: carb coat that covers outer face of the cell wall of some bacteria and outer face of plasma membrane of certain animal cells; consists of oligosaccharides attached to glycolipids and proteins; it may provide adhesion, a barrier to infection, or markers for cell recognition
  34. glycolipids: membrane phospholipids
  35. glycoproteins: recognition proteins are these because they have short polysaccharide chains attached
  36. glycoproteins: proteins found in glycocalyx; they're of recognition proteins
  37. glyoxysomes: peroxisomes in germinating seeds that break down stored fatty acids to generate energy for growth
  38. golgi apparatus: group of flattened sacs that modify/package proteins/lipids into vesicles
  39. integral proteins: proteins that extend into the membrane; amphipathic like phospholipids
  40. intermediate filaments: provide support for maintaining shape of cell
  41. ion channels: allow passage of ions across membranes.
  42. lysosomes: vesicles for golgi body that contain digestive enzymes; don't occur in plant cells;, garbage disposal of cell
  43. microfilaments: made of protein action/involved in cell motility; found in muscle cells/cells that move by changing shape
  44. microtubules: made of protein tubulin/provide support/motility for cellular activities; found in spindle apparatus/flagella/cilia, all that project form plasma membrane to provide motility to cell
  45. microtubules, intermediate filaments, microfilaments: 3 protein fibers of decreasing diameter; involved in establishing shape/movement of cytoskeleton
  46. mitochondria: carries out aerobic respiration , in which energy (ATP) is obtained from carbs
  47. Na+-K+ pump: uses ATP to maintain higher concentration of Na ion and Potassium ion on opposite sides of the plasma membrane
  48. nuclear envelope: bounds nucleus; consisting of phospholipid bilayers similar to plasma membrane
  49. nucleoli: concentrations of DNA in process of manufacturing components of ribosomes
  50. nucleosomes: bundles of DNA coiled up by the histones in chromosomes
  51. nucleus: contains DNA
  52. organelles: bodies within cytoplasm that serve to physically separate various metabolic reactions that occur within cells
  53. peripheral proteins: proteins that attach loosely to inner/outer surface of membrane
  54. peroxisomes: break down various substances including hydrogen peroxide, fatty acids, and amino acids;
  55. phospholipid membrane: selectively permeable; only small uncharged polar molecules and hydrophobic molecules freely pass across the membrane. large polar molecules and all ions are impermeable
  56. plasma membrane (cell membrane): bounds the cell and encloses the nucleus and cytoplasm; separates internal metabolic events from the external environment and controls the movement of materials into and out of cell; double phospholipid membrane with polar hydrophilic heads forming outer faces/nonpolar hydrophobic tails pointing towards inside of membrane
  57. plasmodesmata (plasmodesma): narrow channels b/w plant cells; tube of ER surrounded by cytoplasm/plasma membrane passes through channel
  58. porins: proteins that allow passage of certain ions and small polar molecules through membranes
  59. receptor proteins: provide binding sites for hormones or other trigger molecules and in response to hormone/trigger molecule, specific cell response is activated
  60. recognition proteins: give each cell type of unique identification' provides for distinction b/w self cells and foreign
  61. ribosome: A cell organelle constructed in the nucleolus and functioning as the site of protein synthesis in the cytoplasm; Consists of rRNA and protein molecules, which make up two subunits.
  62. rough ER: ribosome present; creates glycoproteins by attaching polysaccharides groups to polypeptides as they're assembled by ribosomes
  63. smooth ER: w/o ribosomes, responsible for activities including synthesis of lipids/hormones. In liver, helps to break down toxins, drugs, toxins from cellular reactions
  64. spindle apparatus: guides movement of chromosomes during cell diivision
  65. storage vacuoles: in plants; store starch, pigments, and toxic substances
  66. tight junctions: tightly stitched seam b/w animal cells; encircles cell producing seal that prevents passage of materials b/w cells; characteristic of cells lining digestive tract where materials pass through cells to penetrate blood stream
  67. transmembrane proteins: integral proteins that span across membrane, appearing at both surfaces
  68. transport proteins: use energy (ATP) to transport materials across membranes.
  69. transport vesicles: move materials b/w organelles or b/w organelles and plasma membrane
  70. turgor: pressure on cell walls
  71. vacuoles, vesicles: fluid-filled membrane- bound bodies
  72. vesicles: small sacs that bud from outside of golgi body, migrate to/merge to plasma membrane, releasing content to outside of cells