Animal Cell Glossary
The cell is the basic unit of life. The following is a glossary of animal cell terms.
cell membrane - the thin layer of protein and fat that surrounds the cell. The cell membrane is semipermeable, allowing some substances to pass into the cell and blocking others.
centrosome - (also called the "microtubule organizing center") a small body located near the nucleus - it has a dense center and radiating tubules. The centrosome is where microtubules are made. During cell division (mitosis), the centrosome divides and the two parts move to opposite sides of the dividing cell. The
centriole - the dense center of the centrosome.
cytoplasm - the jellylike material outside the cell nucleus in which the organelles are located.
Golgi body - (also called the Golgi apparatus or Golgi complex) a flattened, layered, sac-like organelle that looks like a stack of pancakes and is located near the nucleus. It produces the membranes that surround the
lysosomes. The Golgi body packages proteins and carbohydrates into membrane-bound vesicles for "export" from the cell.
lysosome - (also called cell vesicles) spherical organelles surrounded by a membrane; they contain digestive enzymes. This is where the digestion of cell nutrients takes place.
mitochondrion - spherical to rod-shaped organelles with a double membrane. The inner membrane is infolded many times, forming a series of projections (called cristae). The mitochondrion converts the energy stored in glucose into ATP (adenosine triphosphate) for the cell.
nuclear membrane - the membrane that surrounds the nucleus.
nucleolus - an organelle within the nucleus - it is where ribosomal RNA is produced. Some cells have more than one nucleolus.
nucleus - spherical body containing many organelles, including the nucleolus. The nucleus controls many of the functions of the cell (by controlling protein synthesis) and contains DNA (in chromosomes). The nucleus is surrounded by the nuclear membrane
ribosome - small organelles composed of RNA-rich cytoplasmic granules that are sites of protein synthesis.
rough endoplasmic reticulum - (rough ER) a vast system of interconnected, membranous, infolded and convoluted sacks that are located in the cell's cytoplasm (the ER is continuous with the outer nuclear membrane). Rough ER is covered with ribosomes that give it a rough appearance. Rough ER transports materials through the cell and produces proteins in sacks called cisternae (which are sent to the Golgi body, or inserted into the cell membrane).
smooth endoplasmic reticulum - (smooth ER) a vast system of interconnected, membranous, infolded and convoluted tubes that are located in the cell's cytoplasm (the ER is continuous with the outer nuclear membrane). The space within the ER is called the ER lumen. Smooth ER transports materials through the cell. It contains enzymes and produces and digests lipids (fats) and membrane proteins; smooth ER buds off from rough ER, moving the newly-made proteins and lipids to the Golgi body, lysosomes, and membranes
vacuole - fluid-filled, membrane-surrounded cavities inside a cell. The vacuole fills with food being digested and waste material that is on its way out of the cell.
Cells - The Units of LifePractice Test
1.Which of these is similar in function to a vacuole?
a. an electric circuit
b. a closet
c. a bakery manager
- a wall
Hint A vacuole stores food, water, and other substances until the cell is ready to use them.
2.If a microscope has a lens with a power of 20X, how many times will it magnify something?
a. 2 times its actual size
b. 20 times is actual size
c. 200 times its actual size
- 2,000 times its actual size
Hint The magnification of a microscope is found by multiplying the powers of the eyepiece and the objective lens.
3.What part of the cell helps control what enters and leaves the cell?
a. cytoplasm
b. cell membrane
c. mitochondrion
- nucleus
Hint This structure forms a boundary between the cell and its environment.
4.What object did Robert Hooke first observe cells in?
a. a muscle
b. a bacterium
c. a leaf
- a cork
Hint This object often is associated with floating in water.
5.Cytoplasm is made mostly of ______.
a. vitamins
b. water
c. chemicals
- gelatin
Hint Cell parts can freely move around in the cytoplasm.
6.What determines which traits an organism will have?
a. the nucleus
b. DNA
c. cytoplasm
d. the mitochondrion
Hint This is contained in the chromosomes.
7.Plants, algae, and many bacteria make their own food through the process of ______.
a. metabolism
b. cellular respiration
c. photosynthesis
- digestion
Hint In plants, this occurs in the leaves which contain chloroplasts.
8.Which of the following does NOT have organelles?
a. plants
b. bacteria
c. algae
- fungi
Hint These are one-celled organisms.
9.Chloroplasts capture energy from the ______to make food.
a. stored sugar
b. Sun
c. soil
- Moon
Hint Can plants grow well in the dark?
10.Which of the following are the smallest organisms on Earth?
a. bacteria
b. shrimp
c. algae
- mold
Hint These are made up of only one cell.
11.Where is the hereditary material located in the cell?
a. the mitochondrion
b. the nucleus
c. the cell membrane
- the vacuole
Hint Chromosomes are located inside this organelle.
12.Groups of similar cells that all do the same sort of work are called ______.
a. tissues
b. organs
c. organ systems
- cell systems
Hint Two or more of these form organs.
13.Which type of cell forms a protective layer for your body?
a. nerve cell
b. skin cell
c. muscle cell
- fat cell
Hint They make up the body's largest organ.
14.Which of the following is an organ?
a. stomach
b. muscle tissue
c. nerve tissue
- blood tissue
Hint Two or more of these form organs.
15.What is the smallest unit of life in all living things called?
a. an atom
b. a molecule
c. bacteria
- a cell
Hint These are found in plants and animals.
16.Which two structures do plant cells have that animal cells do not have?
a. cell membrane and a nucleus
b. vacuoles and chloroplasts
c. chloroplasts and a cell wall
- chromosomes and chlorophyll
Hint Plant and animal cells contain cell membranes and a nucleus.
17.Which of the following is NOT an organ?
a. skin
b. blood tissue
c. the heart
- bones
Hint An organ is made up of two or more tissues that work together.
18.Put the level of organization in order from smallest to largest.
a. organ system, organs, tissues, and cells
b. organs, tissues, cells, and organ system
c. cells, tissues, organs, and organ systems
- cells, organs, tissues, and organ systems
Hint All of these put together form an organism.
19.What is the function of a nerve cell?
a. to contract and relax muscles
b. to form a protective layer for your body
c. to store fat
- to receive and deliver messages
Hint Nerve cells are long and have many branches.
20.The statement that all cells come from cells that already exist is part of ______.
a. the fossil record
b. the cell theory
c. the reproductive theory
- Hooke's theory
Hint The other parts of this theory are that all living things are made of one or more cells and that the cell is the basic unit of life in which the activities of life occur.
Cells - The Units of LifePractice Test
_____1.Which of these is similar in function to a vacuole?
a. an electric circuit
b. a closet
c. a bakery manager
d. a wall
_____ 2.If a microscope has a lens with a power of 20X, how many times will it magnify something?
a. 2 times its actual size
b. 20 times is actual size
c. 200 times its actual size
d. 2,000 times its actual size
_____3.What part of the cell helps control what enters and leaves the cell?
a. cytoplasm
b. cell membrane
c. mitochondrion
d. nucleus
_____ 4.What object did Robert Hooke first observe cells in?
a. a muscle
b. a bacterium
c. a leaf
d. a cork
_____ 5.Cytoplasm is made mostly of ______.
a. vitamins
b. water
c. chemicals
d. gelatin
_____6.What determines which traits an organism will have?
a. the nucleus
b. DNA
c. cytoplasm
d. the mitochondrion
_____ 7.Plants, algae, and many bacteria make their own food through the process of ______.
a. metabolism
b. cellular respiration
c. photosynthesis
d. digestion
_____ 8.Which of the following does NOT have organelles?
a. plants
b. bacteria
c. algae
d. fungi
_____9.Chloroplasts capture energy from the ______to make food.
a. stored sugar
b. Sun
c. soil
d. Moon
_____ 10.Which of the following are the smallest organisms on Earth?
a. bacteria
b. shrimp
c. algae
d. mold
_____11.Where is the hereditary material located in the cell?
a. the mitochondrion
b. the nucleus
c. the cell membrane
d. the vacuole
_____ 12.Groups of similar cells that all do the same sort of work are called ______.
a. tissues
b. organs
c. organ systems
d. cell systems
_____13.Which type of cell forms a protective layer for your body?
a. nerve cell
b. skin cell
c. muscle cell
d. fat cell
_____ 14.Which of the following is an organ?
a. stomach
b. muscle tissue
c. nerve tissue
d. blood tissue
_____15.What is the smallest unit of life in all living things called?
a. an atom
b. a molecule
c. bacteria
d. a cell
_____16.Which two structures do plant cells have that animal cells do not have?
a. cell membrane and a nucleus
b. vacuoles and chloroplasts
c. chloroplasts and a cell wall
d. chromosomes and chlorophyll
_____17.Which of the following is NOT an organ?
a. skin
b. blood tissue
c. the heart
d. bones
_____18.Put the level of organization in order from smallest to largest.
a. organ system, organs, tissues, and cells
b. organs, tissues, cells, and organ system
c. cells, tissues, organs, and organ systems
d. cells, organs, tissues, and organ systems
_____19.What is the function of a nerve cell?
a. to contract and relax muscles
b. to form a protective layer for your body
c. to store fat
d. to receive and deliver messages
_____ 20.The statement that all cells come from cells that already exist is part of ______.
a. the fossil record
b. the cell theory
c. the reproductive theory
d. Hooke's theory