Cell Structure and Function Flashcards
(26 cards)
What are the 3 main components of a cell?
The cell membrane, the cytoplasm, and the nucleus.
What can be found in the cytoplasm?
Cytosol, organelles, inclusions, and protein fibers.
What is the cell membrane primarily comprised of?
Phospholipids.
What are the 2 main classes of membrane proteins?
Peripheral and integral.
What are the functions of membrane proteins?
Ion channels, carriers, receptors, enzyme, linkers, and cell identity markers.
What are the functions of the cell membrane?
Physical isolation/separation, regulation of exchange with surroundings, sensitivity to chemical messengers, and structural support.
What is it called when solutes move down their concentration or electrical gradient?
Diffusion.
Small hydrophobic molecules can cross the cell membrane by what method?
Simple diffusion.
Larger hydrophilic molecules can cross the cell membrane down their concentration gradient but what method?
Facilitated diffusion.
To move molecules against their concentration gradient requires ATP and is called what?
Active transport.
What are the 3 kinds of fiber that make up the cytoskeleton?
Microfilaments, intermediate filaments, microtubules.
What is the function of microfilaments?
Providing mechanical support and generating movement.
What is the function of intermediate filaments?
Adds strength to cell shape and anchors organelles.
What is the function of microtubules?
Movement of organelles, comprises the core of cilia and flagella, and forms the mitotic spindle during cell division.
What is the centrosome?
The microtubule organising centre.
What is the function of cilia?
Moving substances across the cell surface.
What is the function of flagella?
To propel cells. Sperm cells only cell in humans that have a flagella.
What is the function of ribosomes?
Protein synthesis.
What are the functions of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum?
Lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, detoxification, Ca+ storage and release.
What is the function of the rough endoplasmic reticulum?
Synthesising proteins for cell membrane and excretion. The protein factory of the cell.
What is the function of the golgi apparatus?
Protein modification and sorting. The “post office” of the cell.
What is the function of lysosomes?
Breakdown and recycling of organelles, digestion of bacteria and other ingested material.
What do proteosomes do?
Break down damaged or abnormal proteins that are marked for destruction.
What does the mitochondria do?
Produces ATP, a high energy molecule that enables most energy dependent functions in a cell.
