Cells: The basic unit of life Flashcards
(18 cards)
cell
the basic structural and functional unit of all living organisms.
Red blood cells
Biconcave discs
Allows for easy movement through the tiny blood capillaries
Xylem cells
Transports water over great distances at high pressures
Cell Wall
Encloses the cell
forms the outer protective layer of plant cells
Provides rigid framework and support for plants
gives cells a definite shape
walls are permeable and allow most dissolved substances to pass through
Protoplasm
Refers to the living material or substance in plant and animal cells
Cell membrane or plasma membrane
The cell membrane is the outer boundary of the cytoplasm
The main function of a cell membrane is to control the movement of substances into the cell by being selectively permeable
Diffusion
The tendency of liquid and gas molecules to move from a region of their higher concentration to a region of lower concentration
Osmosis
The movement of water molecules from a dilute solution, where there is a lot of water, to a concentrated solution where there is little water
The movement of water
Vacuole
Stores fat and used for digestion
Mitochondria
Found scattered in the cytoplasm of most living cells
provides energy for cellular respiration
Plastids
small disc shaped, ovoid or irregularly shaped organelles found only in plant cells
Endoplasmic Reticulum
A system of tube enclosed by membranes
materials may be transported through the tubes from one part of the cell to another
Golgi apparatus
They appear to be broken off ends of the ER
Ribosomes
very small grain-like structures present in all kinds of plant and animal cells, as well as in bacteria, they occur on the er
Lysosomes
They are bound by a single membrane and contain digestive enzymes
They fuse with food vacuoles and the enzymes digest the food. This is called intracellular digestion because it takes place inside the cell
Nucleus functions
Controls the production of enzymes
The chromosomes are responsible for carrying hereditary characteristics from parents to their offspring
Chromoplasts
Gives colour to plants, such as flowers, veggies, fruits
Cell sap
A solution of sugar, amino acids, mineral salts and water
