Cell Biology Flashcards: Organelles and Key Terms
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Cell Biology Flashcards: Organelles and Key Terms
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Cell
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About this deck
This deck covers the cell biology vocabulary that appears in most middle school life science and high school biology courses: the parts of a cell, how materials cross the membrane, how cells make energy, and how they divide.
Each card has a term on the front and a one-line definition on the back. Definitions note whether a structure is found in plant cells, animal cells or both, since that comparison is a frequent test question.
It also works as a quick refresher before AP Biology or an introductory college biology course.
Study tips
- Use a factory analogy: the nucleus is the main office, ribosomes are workers, the Golgi is shipping.
- Make a two-column list of plant-only and animal-only structures and check it against the cards.
- Draw and label a cell from memory after each session, then compare with the deck.
- For mitosis, learn the phase order first (prophase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase), then what happens in each.
All 40 cards
| Front | Back |
|---|---|
| Cell | The basic unit of structure and function in living things |
| Cell theory | All living things are made of cells; cells are the basic unit of life; cells come from existing cells |
| Prokaryote | Organism whose cells have no nucleus or membrane-bound organelles, e.g. bacteria |
| Eukaryote | Organism whose cells have a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles, e.g. plants, animals, fungi |
| Cell membrane | Thin, flexible barrier around the cell that controls what enters and leaves; all cells |
| Phospholipid bilayer | Double layer of phospholipids that forms the basic structure of cell membranes |
| Cell wall | Rigid outer layer that supports and protects; plants (cellulose), fungi, bacteria; not animals |
| Cytoplasm | Everything inside the cell membrane except the nucleus, including the fluid cytosol |
| Nucleus | Membrane-bound organelle that holds the cell's DNA and controls cell activity |
| Nucleolus | Dense region inside the nucleus where ribosomes are assembled |
| Nuclear envelope | Double membrane surrounding the nucleus, with pores |
| Chromatin | DNA wrapped around proteins; condenses into chromosomes before division |
| Ribosome | Small structure that builds proteins from amino acids; found in all cells |
| Rough endoplasmic reticulum | Membrane network studded with ribosomes; makes and folds proteins |
| Smooth endoplasmic reticulum | Membrane network without ribosomes; makes lipids and helps detoxify |
| Golgi apparatus | Modifies, sorts and packages proteins and lipids for transport |
| Mitochondrion | Site of cellular respiration; releases energy from food as ATP |
| Chloroplast | Site of photosynthesis in plants and algae; contains chlorophyll |
| Vacuole | Storage sac for water, nutrients and waste; large central vacuole in plant cells |
| Lysosome | Vesicle with digestive enzymes that break down waste and worn-out parts; mainly animal cells |
| Vesicle | Small membrane bubble that moves materials within or out of the cell |
| Cytoskeleton | Network of protein fibers that gives the cell shape and helps it move |
| Centriole | Cylinder of microtubules that helps organize cell division in animal cells |
| Cilia and flagella | Hair-like (cilia) or whip-like (flagella) structures used for movement |
| Diffusion | Movement of particles from high to low concentration, without energy input |
| Osmosis | Diffusion of water across a selectively permeable membrane |
| Active transport | Moving substances against a concentration gradient, using energy (ATP) |
| Facilitated diffusion | Passive transport through membrane proteins such as channels or carriers |
| Endocytosis | The cell takes in material by wrapping it in membrane |
| Exocytosis | The cell releases material by fusing a vesicle with the membrane |
| Hypertonic solution | Higher solute concentration outside the cell; water moves out and the cell shrinks |
| Hypotonic solution | Lower solute concentration outside the cell; water moves in and the cell swells |
| ATP | Adenosine triphosphate; the main energy-carrying molecule in cells |
| Photosynthesis | 6CO₂ + 6H₂O + light → C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂; makes glucose in chloroplasts |
| Cellular respiration | C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂ → 6CO₂ + 6H₂O + ATP; releases energy from glucose |
| Mitosis | Division of the nucleus producing two identical cells with the same chromosome number |
| Meiosis | Two divisions producing four sex cells with half the chromosome number |
| Interphase | Stage between divisions when the cell grows and copies its DNA |
| Cytokinesis | Division of the cytoplasm into two daughter cells after mitosis |
| Selectively permeable | Lets some substances cross a membrane but not others |
Frequently asked questions
›What is the difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells?
Eukaryotic cells have a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles. Prokaryotic cells, such as bacteria, have neither.
›Which organelles are only in plant cells?
The cell wall and chloroplasts. Plant cells also usually have one large central vacuole.
›Is this deck enough for AP Biology?
It covers core cell vocabulary. AP Biology goes further into cell signaling, the details of respiration and photosynthesis, and genetics.
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