A&P Chapter 3 Flashcards

Questions and Answers

Which of the following are the three parts of a cell? (Select all that apply)

Plasma membrane (correct)

Nucleus (correct)

Cell wall

Cytoplasm (correct)

What is the structure of the plasma membrane?

Membrane lipids, membrane proteins, carbohydrates

What is the function of the plasma membrane?

Acts as a gatekeeper (selective permeability)

What cannot pass through the plasma membrane?

Large polar and charged substances Signup and view all the answers

What can pass through the plasma membrane?

Small gases, non-polar molecules, small polar molecules (water) Signup and view all the answers

What is tonicity?

A measure of a solution's ability to change the volume of cells by altering their water concentration. Signup and view all the answers

What is an isotonic solution?

Cells retain their normal size and shape. Signup and view all the answers

What is a hypertonic solution?

Cells lose water by osmosis and shrink. Signup and view all the answers

What is a hypotonic solution?

Cells take on water and may burst. Signup and view all the answers

What are organelles?

'Little organs' that perform specific functions to maintain the life of the cell. Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of mitochondria?

Site of ATP synthesis; powerhouse of the cell. Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of ribosomes?

Sites of protein synthesis. Signup and view all the answers

What does the rough endoplasmic reticulum do?

Modifies proteins and transports them. Signup and view all the answers

What is the smooth endoplasmic reticulum responsible for?

Lipid synthesis, detoxification, glycogen breakdown. Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the Golgi apparatus?

Protein sorting. Signup and view all the answers

What do lysosomes do?

Digest intracellular debris. Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of cytoskeletal organelles?

Provide support for cellular structure. Signup and view all the answers

What are microfilaments?

Strands made of actin protein subunits. Signup and view all the answers

What are intermediate filaments?

Tough, insoluble protein fibers. Signup and view all the answers

What are microtubules?

Hollow tubes made of tubulin protein subunits. Signup and view all the answers

What are cellular extensions?

Protruding parts of the cell for motility or increased surface area. Signup and view all the answers

What structures are found in the nucleus?

Nuclear envelope, chromatin, nucleolus. Signup and view all the answers

What is the main function of the nucleus?

Control center of the cell. Signup and view all the answers

What are cilia?

Short cell-surface projections that help move substances. Signup and view all the answers

What is flagella?

Longer projection used for cell propulsion. Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of microvilli?

Increase surface area for absorption. Signup and view all the answers

What are nucleoli?

Sites of ribosome subunit manufacture. Signup and view all the answers

What is the nuclear envelope?

Separates nucleoplasm from cytoplasm. Signup and view all the answers

What is chromatin?

DNA that constitutes genes. Signup and view all the answers

What is mitosis?

Process of nuclear division distributing chromosomes to daughter nuclei. Signup and view all the answers

What is interphase?

Period of a cell's normal metabolic activities and growth. Signup and view all the answers

What happens during early prophase?

Chromatin condenses forming barlike chromosomes. Signup and view all the answers

What occurs during late prophase?

Nuclear envelope fragments and spindle interacts with chromosomes. Signup and view all the answers

What happens during metaphase?

Centrosomes cluster at the center of the cell. Signup and view all the answers

What is anaphase?

Centromeres split, and chromatids become chromosomes. Signup and view all the answers

What happens during telophase?

Chromosomal movement stops. Signup and view all the answers

What is cytokinesis?

Completes the division of the cell into two daughter cells. Signup and view all the answers

What does mRNA (Messenger RNA) resemble?

Long nucleotide strands resembling half-DNA molecules. Signup and view all the answers

What is rRNA (Ribosomal RNA)?

Part of the ribosomes. Signup and view all the answers

What does tRNA (Transfer RNA) do?

Carries amino acids to ribosomes. Signup and view all the answers

What is transcription?

Process where DNA serves as a template to create mRNA. Signup and view all the answers

What is a diploid cell?

A cell with a full set of chromosomes. Signup and view all the answers

What is a haploid cell?

A cell with one chromosome from each pair. Signup and view all the answers

How many chromosomes do human somatic cells contain?

46 chromosomes (or 23 pairs). Signup and view all the answers

What does the central dogma state?

DNA --> RNA --> protein. Signup and view all the answers

What is DNA?

Blueprint for protein making. Signup and view all the answers

What is translation?

Process of converting nucleic acid language to amino acids. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Structure and Function of Cells

Cells consist of three main parts: Plasma membrane, Cytoplasm, and Nucleus.
Plasma membrane components include membrane lipids, membrane proteins, and carbohydrates.
Functions as a selective barrier, allowing certain substances to pass through while blocking others.

Membrane Permeability

Large polar molecules and charged substances cannot pass through the plasma membrane.
Small gases, non-polar substances, and small polar molecules like water can freely pass through.

Tonicity and Solutions

Tonicity measures a solution's ability to affect cell volume by altering water concentration.
Isotonic solutions maintain cell size and shape due to equal concentrations of solutes and water.
Hypertonic solutions cause cells to lose water and shrink, having higher solute concentrations outside.
Hypotonic solutions make cells swell and potentially burst, containing lower solute concentrations than inside cells.

Organelles and Their Functions

Organelles are specialized compartments within cells that perform distinct functions.
Mitochondria are known as the powerhouse of the cell, where ATP synthesis occurs.
Ribosomes are the sites of protein synthesis.
Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum (Rough ER) modifies and transports proteins; it is studded with ribosomes.
Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum (Smooth ER) is involved in lipid synthesis and detoxification processes.

Golgi Apparatus and Lysosomes

The Golgi apparatus sorts and processes proteins, consisting of stacked smooth sacs and vesicles.
Lysosomes digest intracellular debris, acting as the cell's garbage disposal.

Cytoskeletal Structures

Cytoskeletal organelles include microfilaments (actin strands), intermediate filaments (tough protein fibers), and microtubules (hollow tubes of tubulin) which provide structural support.

Cellular Extensions

Cellular extensions enhance motility or increase surface area; examples include cilia, flagella, and microvilli.
Cilia are short and create a unidirectional current for moving substances across surfaces.
Flagella are longer and propel cells, such as sperm cells.
Microvilli increase surface area, aiding in absorption.

Nucleus

The nucleus is the control center of the cell, with a structure including the nuclear envelope, chromatin, and nucleolus.
The nuclear envelope separates nucleoplasm from cytoplasm and regulates substance passage.

Cell Cycle and Mitosis

Mitosis is the nuclear division process that results in two daughter nuclei.
Interphase is the cell's phase of normal activity and growth.
Prophase involves chromatin condensation into chromosomes; late prophase sees nuclear envelope fragmentation.
Metaphase aligns chromosomes at the cell's equator, with centrosomes at opposite poles.
Anaphase marks the separation of chromatids, becoming individual chromosomes.
Telophase begins when chromosomal movement stops, followed by cytokinesis which divides the cytoplasm into two identical daughter cells.

RNA Types and Genetic Processes

Messenger RNA (mRNA) serves as a copy of DNA for protein synthesis.
Ribosomal RNA (rRNA) is a component of ribosomes.
Transfer RNA (tRNA) transports amino acids to ribosomes during protein synthesis.
Transcription is the process where DNA is transcribed to mRNA, tRNA, and rRNA.
Diploid cells contain a full set of chromosomes (46 total).
Haploid cells have one chromosome from each pair.
Human somatic cells have 46 chromosomes or 23 pairs.
The Central Dogma of molecular biology describes the flow of genetic information: DNA → RNA → Protein.

Protein Synthesis

Translation is the process of converting mRNA's nucleotide language into amino acid sequences for protein formation.

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Description

Test your knowledge of the essential components and functions of cells with these flashcards from Anatomy & Physiology Chapter 3. Covering everything from the structure of the plasma membrane to its selective permeability, these cards are perfect for mastering cell biology concepts.