What is the basic structural and functional unit of living tissues?
The cell.
Are human cells prokaryotic or eukaryotic?
Human cells are eukaryotic.
What are the three major components of a human cell?
Plasma membrane, cytoplasm, and nucleus.
What does the plasma membrane do in a human cell?
It encloses the cell.
What does the cytoplasm contain in a human cell?
Organelles.
What is the function of the nucleus in a human cell?
It stores genetic material and controls cellular activity.
How are organelles classified by membrane structure?
As non-membrane-bound, single-membrane-bound, or double-membrane-bound.
Which organelles are non-membrane-bound?
Ribosomes, the cytoskeleton, and centrioles.
Which organelles have a single membrane?
Endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, lysosomes, peroxisomes, and vesicles.
Which organelles have a double membrane?
The nucleus and mitochondria.
What does the plasma membrane define in a cell?
The cell periphery.
What is the plasma membrane made of?
A phospholipid bilayer with hydrophilic heads and hydrophobic tails.
Where are integral proteins located in the plasma membrane?
They span the plasma membrane.
What are carbohydrates attached to in the plasma membrane?
Proteins or lipids as glycoproteins and glycolipids.
What is the cytoplasm?
Material between the plasma membrane and nucleus containing cytosol and organelles.
What functions does the cytoplasm provide?
Supports organelles, enables chemical pathways, and allows intracellular organization and transport.
What cellular structure controls cellular activities and stores DNA?
The nucleus.
What is the main function of the nucleolus?
It supports ribosome production.
What protein composes microfilaments?
Actin.
What protein composes microtubules?
Tubulin.
What composes intermediate filaments?
Heterogeneous proteins.
What role does the cytoskeleton play in cell shape?
It maintains cell shape.
How does the cytoskeleton contribute to cell movement?
It supports motility and contractility.
In which cellular processes does the cytoskeleton participate?
Intracellular movement and cell division.
What is the characteristic of the mitochondrial outer membrane?
It is smooth.
What feature of the inner mitochondrial membrane increases ATP reaction surface area?
Folds called cristae.
Where do major catabolic pathways occur in mitochondria?
In the mitochondrial matrix.
What does the mitochondrial matrix contain related to metabolism?
Enzymes for catabolic pathways.
What major energy molecule do mitochondria produce?
ATP.
What role does cytochrome c release from mitochondria play?
It contributes to programmed cell death.
How does mitochondrial function affect cellular aging?
Mitochondrial function and damage influence aging processes.
What distinguishes rough ER from smooth ER structurally?
Rough ER has ribosomes, smooth ER does not.
What is the main function of rough endoplasmic reticulum?
It participates in protein synthesis.
Which molecules does smooth endoplasmic reticulum synthesize?
Phospholipids, cholesterol, and steroid hormones.
What role does the sarcoplasmic reticulum play in muscle cells?
It stores and releases Ca²⁺ for muscle contraction.
How does the Golgi apparatus process proteins from the ER?
By maturing, modifying, packaging, and sorting them into vesicles.
What are lysosomes and what do they contain?
Lysosomes are spherical vesicles with acid hydrolase digestive enzymes.
What types of molecules do lysosomes digest?
Lysosomes digest proteins, polysaccharides, lipids, and nucleic acids.
What additional roles do lysosomes have besides digestion?
They destroy some viruses and bacteria and recycle damaged cellular material.
What are ribosomes composed of and their main function?
Ribosomes are made of ribosomal RNA and proteins and synthesize cellular proteins.
What defines peroxisomes and what key enzyme do they contain?
Peroxisomes are small vesicles with oxidative enzymes including catalase.
What is one detoxification role of peroxisomes?
Peroxisomes detoxify harmful substances.
Which fatty acid process occurs in peroxisomes?
Peroxisomes carry out β-oxidation of very-long-chain fatty acids.
How do peroxisomes protect cells from metabolic damage?
They metabolize reactive oxygen species and break down selected amino acids and purines.
Test your knowledge with 20 questions on Cell Structure and Function.
1. What is the defining status of a human cell in living tissue?
2. Which three structures constitute the major components of a human cell?
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