The Cell

Question 1

Cell Wall

Answer 1

rigid cell covering comprised of various molecules that protects the cell, provides structural support, and gives shape to the cell

Question 2

Central Vacuole

Answer 2

large plant cell organelle that regulates the cell’s storage compartment, holds water, and plays a significant role in cell growth as the site of macromolecule degradation

Question 3

Centrosome

Answer 3

region in animal cells made of two centrioles that serves as an organizing center for microtubules

Question 4

Centrioles

Answer 4

Organizing microtubules that serve as the cell’s skeletal system

Question 5

Chlorophyll

Answer 5

green pigment that captures the light energy that drives the light reactions of photosynthesis

Question 6

Chloroplast

Answer 6

plant cell organelle that carries out photosynthesis

Question 7

Chromatin

Answer 7

protein-DNA complex that serves as the chromosomes’ building material

Question 8

Chromosome

Answer 8

structure within the nucleus that comprises chromatin that contains DNA, the hereditary material

Question 9

Cilium

Answer 9

(plural = cilia) short, hair-like structure that extends from the plasma membrane in large numbers and functions to move an entire cell or move substances along the cell’s outer surface

Question 10

Cytoplasm

Answer 10

entire region between the plasma membrane and the nuclear envelope, consisting of organelles suspended in the gel-like cytosol, the cytoskeleton, and various chemicals

Question 11

Cytoskeleton

Answer 11

protein fiber network that collectively maintains the cell’s shape, secures some organelles in specific positions, allows cytoplasm and vesicles to move within the cell, and enables unicellular organisms to move independently

Question 12

Cytosol

Answer 12

the cytoplasm’s gel-like material in which cell structures are suspended

Question 13

Desmosome

Answer 13

linkages between adjacent epithelial cells that form when cadherins in the plasma membrane attach to intermediate filaments

Question 14

Electron Microscope

Answer 14

an instrument that magnifies an object using an electron beam that passes and bends through a lens system to visualize a specimen

Question 15

Endomembrane System

Answer 15

group of organelles and membranes in eukaryotic cells that work together modifying, packaging, and transporting lipids and proteins

Question 16

Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER)

Answer 16

series of interconnected membranous structures within eukaryotic cells that collectively modify proteins and synthesize lipids

Question 17

Eukaryotic Cell

Answer 17

cell that has a membrane-bound nucleus and several other membrane-bound compartments or sacs

Question 18

Extracellular Matrix

Answer 18

material secreted from animal or fungal cells that provides mechanical protection and anchoring for the cells in the tissue

Question 19

Flagellum

Answer 19

(plural = flagella) long, hair-like structure that extends from the plasma membrane and moves the cell

Question 20

Gap Junction

Answer 20

channel between two adjacent animal cells that allows ions, nutrients, and low molecular weight substances to pass between cells, enabling the cells to communicate

Question 21

Golgi Apparatus

Answer 21

eukaryotic organelle comprised of a series of stacked membranes that sorts, tags, and packages lipids and proteins for distribution

Question 22

Intermediate Filament

Answer 22

cytoskeletal component, comprised of several fibrous protein intertwined strands, that bears tension, supports cell-cell junctions, and anchors cells to extracellular structures

Question 23

Light Microscope

Answer 23

an instrument that magnifies an object using a beam of visible light that passes and bends through a lens system to visualize a specimen

Question 24

Lysosome

Answer 24

organelle in an animal cell that functions as the cell’s digestive component; it breaks down proteins, polysaccharides, lipids, nucleic acids, and even worn-out organelles

Question 25

Microfilament

Answer 25

the cytoskeleton system's narrowest element; it provides rigidity and shape to the cell and enables cellular movements

Question 26

Microscope

Answer 26

an instrument that magnifies an object

Question 27

Microtubule

Answer 27

the cytoskeleton system's widest element; it helps the cell resist compression, provides a track along which vesicles move through the cell, pulls replicated chromosomes to opposite ends of a dividing cell, and is the structural element of centrioles, flagella, and cilia

Question 28

Mitochondria

Answer 28

(singular = mitochondrion) cellular organelles responsible for carrying out cellular respiration, resulting in producing ATP, the cell’s main energy-carrying molecule

Question 29

Nuclear Envelope

Answer 29

double-membrane structure that constitutes the nucleus' outermost portion

Question 30

Nucleoid

Answer 30

central part of a prokaryotic cell's central part where the chromosome is located

Question 31

Nucleolus

Answer 31

darkly staining body within the nucleus that is responsible for assembling ribosome subunits

Question 32

Nucleoplasm

Answer 32

semi-solid fluid inside the nucleus that contains the chromatin and nucleolus

Question 33

Nucleus

Answer 33

cell organelle that houses the cell’s DNA and directs ribosome and protein synthesis

Question 34

Organelle

Answer 34

compartment or sac within a cell

Question 35

Peroxisome

Answer 35

small, round organelle that contains hydrogen peroxide, oxidizes fatty acids and amino acids, and detoxifies many poisons

Question 36

Plasma Membrane

Answer 36

phospholipid bilayer with embedded (integral) or attached (peripheral) proteins, and separates the cell's internal content from its surrounding environment

Question 37

Plasmodesma

Answer 37

(plural = plasmodesmata) channel that passes between adjacent plant cells' cell walls, connects their cytoplasm, and allows transporting of materials from cell to cell

Question 38

Prokaryote

Answer 38

unicellular organism that lacks a nucleus or any other membrane-bound organelle

Question 39

Ribosome

Answer 39

cellular structure that carries out protein synthesis

Question 40

Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum (SER)

Answer 40

region of the endoplasmic reticulum that is studded with ribosomes and engages in protein modification and phospholipid synthesis

Question 41

Smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER)

Answer 41

region of the endoplasmic reticulum that has few or no ribosomes on its cytoplasmic surface and synthesizes carbohydrates, lipids, and steroid hormones; detoxifies certain chemicals (like pesticides, preservatives, medications, and environmental pollutants), and stores calcium ions

Question 42

Tight Junction

Answer 42

protein adherence that creates a firm seal between two adjacent animal cells

Question 43

Unified cell theory

Answer 43

a biological concept that states that one or more cells comprise all organisms; the cell is the basic unit of life; and new cells arise from existing cells

Question 44

Vacuole

Answer 44

membrane-bound sac, somewhat larger than a vesicle, which functions in cellular storage and transport

Question 45

Vesicle

Answer 45

small, membrane-bound sac that functions in cellular storage and transport; its membrane is capable of fusing with the plasma membrane and the membranes of the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus