Cell structure

Question 1

Actin

Answer 1

A protein that forms the contractile fibres known as microfilaments.

Question 2

Artefacts

Answer 2

Objects or structures seen through a microscope that have been created during specimen processing.

Question 3

Cell

Answer 3

The basic building block of life.

Question 4

Cellulose

Answer 4

A polysaccharide formed from beta glucose molecules with alternating orientations. It cannot coil or branch and forms strong, insoluble fibres through hydrogen bonding.

Question 5

Centrioles

Answer 5

A cytoskeletal component in most eukaryotic cells, composed of microtubules.

Question 6

Chlorophyll

Answer 6

A green pigment that captures light for photosynthesis.

Question 7

Chloroplast

Answer 7

An organelle responsible for photosynthesis in plant cells. Contains chlorophyll where light reactions take place.

Question 8

Chromatin

Answer 8

Uncondensed DNA in a complex with histone proteins.

Question 9

Chromosomes

Answer 9

Structures of condensed and coiled DNA visible during cell division.

Question 10

Cilia

Answer 10

Hair-like extensions from some cell types that can be mobile or stationary.

Question 11

Compound light microscope

Answer 11

A light microscope using two lenses (objective and eyepiece) to magnify a specimen.

Question 12

Cristae

Answer 12

Folds of the inner mitochondrial membrane that increase surface area for electron transport chain reactions.

Question 13

Cytoplasm

Answer 13

Internal fluid of cells containing cytosol, organelles, and cytoskeleton.

Question 14

Cytoskeleton

Answer 14

A network of fibres in eukaryotic cells that maintains cell shape and stability.

Question 15

DNA

Answer 15

Deoxyribonucleic acid, the molecule carrying genetic information.

Question 16

Electron microscopy

Answer 16

Uses a beam of electrons to achieve higher resolution images than light microscopes.

Question 17

Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER)

Answer 17

A membrane network enclosing flattened sacs called cisternae. Two types: RER and SER.

Question 18

Eukaryotic cells

Answer 18

Cells with a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles.

Question 19

Eyepiece graticule

Answer 19

A glass disc with a scale (1–100) used with a stage micrometre to measure specimens.

Question 20

Flagella

Answer 20

Whip-like extensions that enable cell motility.

Question 21

Golgi apparatus

Answer 21

A membrane-bound organelle that modifies and packages proteins into vesicles.

Question 22

Granum

Answer 22

A stack of thylakoids in chloroplasts where light reactions occur.

Question 23

Histones

Answer 23

Proteins that form a complex with DNA, making chromatin.

Question 24

Intermediate fibres

Answer 24

Cytoskeletal components that give mechanical strength to cells.

Question 25

Light microscope

Answer 25

An instrument using visible light and lenses to magnify specimens.

Question 26

Lysosomes

Answer 26

Vesicles containing hydrolytic enzymes to break down waste material and old organelles.

Question 27

Magnification

Answer 27

The number of times an image appears larger than the actual object.

Question 28

Matrix

Answer 28

The fluid part of mitochondria containing enzymes for the Krebs cycle and link reaction.

Question 29

Metabolism

Answer 29

The chemical processes of molecule synthesis and breakdown.

Question 30

Microfilaments

Answer 30

Contractile fibres responsible for cell movement and cytokinesis.

Question 31

Microtubules

Answer 31

Tubular structures made of tubulin, forming a scaffold and transporting organelles.

Question 32

Mitochondria

Answer 32

Organelles in eukaryotic cells where the final stages of respiration occur.

Question 33

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA)

Answer 33

DNA located within the mitochondrial matrix.

Question 34

Nucleus

Answer 34

Organelle containing genetic information in DNA form.

Question 35

Nucleolus

Answer 35

A region within the nucleus responsible for ribosome production.

Question 36

Organelles

Answer 36

Membrane-bound structures in eukaryotic cells with specific functions.

Question 37

Prokaryotic cells

Answer 37

Cells lacking a membrane-bound nucleus and organelles.

Question 38

Resolution

Answer 38

The minimum distance between two distinguishable points in an image.

Question 39

Ribosomes

Answer 39

Sites of protein synthesis, made in the nucleolus, not membrane-bound.

Question 40

Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum (RER)

Answer 40

ER with ribosomes on its surface

Question 41

Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM)

Answer 41

Uses reflected electrons to produce 3D images of specimen surfaces.

Question 42

Secretion

Answer 42

The transport of substances out of the cell.

Question 43

Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum (SER)

Answer 43

ER lacking ribosomes

Question 44

Stage micrometre

Answer 44

A microscope slide with a scale used with an eyepiece graticule to measure specimen size.

Question 45

Stroma

Answer 45

The fluid interior of chloroplasts.

Question 46

Ultrastructure

Answer 46

Cell features visible only with an electron microscope.

Question 47

Thylakoid

Answer 47

Flattened membrane sacs in chloroplasts

Question 48

Tonoplast

Answer 48

The selectively permeable membrane surrounding a plant cell's vacuole.

Question 49

Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM)

Answer 49

An electron microscope that transmits electrons through a specimen to produce an image.

Question 50

Vacuole

Answer 50

A membrane-bound sac in plant cells containing cell sap.

Question 51

Vesicles

Answer 51

Membrane-bound sacs for storage and transport within cells.