Components of the Cell
These are the three main components of a cell.
A: What are the plasma membrane, cytoplasm, and nucleus?
This model describes the plasma membrane as a flexible and ever-moving structure.
A: What is the fluid mosaic model?
This type of diffusion involves the movement of small, nonpolar molecules directly through the lipid bilayer.
A: What is simple diffusion?
This intracellular fluid makes up 55% of the cell’s total volume and contains dissolved particles like glucose and ATP.
A: What is the cytosol?
This component of the cytoskeleton provides structural support and facilitates cell movement.
A: What is the cytoskeleton?
This organelle houses most of the cell’s DNA.
A: What is the nucleus?
These are the three types of lipids that make up the lipid bilayer.
What are phospholipids, cholesterol, and glycolipids?
This process moves water across the plasma membrane.
A: What is osmosis?
These structures are the sites of protein synthesis and are composed of rRNA and proteins.
A: What are ribosomes?
These short, hair-like projections move fluids across the surface of the cell in an “oarlike” pattern.
A: What are cilia?
This is the cellular region that contains organelles and is enclosed by the plasma membrane but excludes the nucleus.
A: What is the cytoplasm?
This component of the plasma membrane is responsible for recognizing cells as “self” or “non-self.”
A: What is the glycocalyx?
This type of active transport uses ATP to pump sodium out of the cell and potassium into the cell.
A: What is the Na⁺/K⁺ ATPase pump?
This organelle modifies and packages proteins received from the rough ER.
A: What is the Golgi complex?
This longer structure propels entire cells, such as sperm cells.
A: What is a flagellum?
This structure forms the cell’s outer surface.
A: What is the plasma membrane?
These membrane proteins act as ion channels, carriers, receptors, and enzymes.
A: What are integral proteins?
This form of endocytosis engulfs large particles like bacteria.
A: What is phagocytosis?
Known as the powerhouse of the cell, this organelle produces ATP.
A: What is the mitochondrion?
These are the three types of protein filaments in the cytoskeleton.
A: What are microfilaments, intermediate filaments, and microtubules?
These molecules form the lipid bilayer that makes up the plasma membrane.
A: What are phospholipids?
This property of the plasma membrane allows proteins to move laterally within their half of the bilayer.
What is membrane fluidity?
This vesicular transport process releases neurotransmitters or hormones from the cell.
A: What is exocytosis?
This organelle contains digestive enzymes for breaking down cellular waste.
A: What is the lysosome?
This process refers to the movement of substances like glucose into the cell using carrier proteins.
A: What is carrier-mediated facilitated diffusion?