Nucleus & Friends
This organelle acts as the
"brain" or control center of the cell and houses DNA
What is a Nucleus?
Mitochondria/ Mitochondrion
This flexible outer barrier controls what enters and leaves all cells
Cell Membrane
This fundamental scientific theory states that all living things are made of cells, cells are the basic unit of life, and cells come from pre-existing cells
Cell Theory
This thick, jelly-like fluid fills the cell and holds the organelles in place
Cytoplasm
Found inside the nucleus, this structure is responsible for making ribosomes.
Nucleolus
These tiny structures act as factories that assemble proteins.
These sac-like structures store water, nutrients, and waste for the cell
Vacuoles
This term describes a membrane that allows only certain substances to pass through while blocking others.
Semipermeable
This type of cell does not have a nucleus or membrane-bound organelles (like bacteria)
Prokaryotic Cell
These thread-like structures made of DNA and protein carry genetic information inside the nucleus
Chromosomes/Chromatin
This network of membranes is covered in ribosomes and helps fold and transport proteins
Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum / Rough ER
Filled with digestive enzymes, these organelles break down waste, invaders, and old cell parts
Lysosomes
Meaning "little organ," this term refers to any specialized structure within a cell that performs a specific function
Organelle
This complex network of protein fibers gives the cell its shape and helps it move
Cytoskeleton
The double membrane surrounds the nucleus, protecting it and controlling what enters and exits
nuclear envelope/ nuclear membrane
This organelle modifies, sorts, and packages proteins and lipids into vesicles for shipping
Golgi Apparatus
Small, membrane-bound sacs that act as "delivery trucks" to move materials around or out of the cell.
Vesicles
This term describes an organism made up of only one single cell, such as bacteria or amoebas
Prokaryote
This type of cell contains a true nucleus and complex, membrane-bound organelles
Eukaryotic Cell
These tiny openings puncture the nuclear envelope, allowing RNA and proteins to move in and out
Nuclear Pores
Unlike its "rough" counterpart, this organelle lacks ribosomes and specializes in making lipids and detoxifying chemicals
Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum
These specific structures contain enzymes that transfer hydrogen atoms to oxygen, producing and then breaking down hydrogen peroxide
Peroxisomes
This is the biological term for the steady-state, internal balance or equilibrium that a cell must maintain to survive
Homeostasis
This model describes the cell membrane as a flexible, shifting lipid barrier embedded with a mosaic of constantly moving proteins
Fluid Mosaic Model